C/1862 N1 (Schmidt)
Non-periodic comet with the 4th closest 19th-century Earth approach.
C/1862 N1 (Schmidt), also called C/1862 N1 (Schmidt–Tempel), is a non-periodic comet. It was first spotted on 2 July 1862 by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt, director of the National Observatory of Athens. Wilhelm Tempel independently discovered it a few hours later at the Marseille Observatory. At discovery, the comet was in the constellation Cassiopeia. Schmidt reported it as tailless, with a coma 22 arcminutes wide, and visible without a telescope. Tempel estimated its brightness at magnitude 4–5. When Schmidt observed it again on 4 July, a tail half a degree long had appeared. That same day, the comet passed 0.0982 AU (about 14.69 million km) from Earth, making it the fourth closest known cometary approach of the 19th century. After this, the comet receded from both Earth and the Sun, and bright moonlight interfered with further observations. It was last seen with the naked eye on 7 July. The comet faded quickly over the rest of the month and was last observed on 31 July. The comet has been tentatively linked to the weak ζ Arietids meteor shower, which occurs from 13 to 25 August. The minimum orbital intersection distance between the comet and Earth is 0.028 AU.
Quick Facts
- Discoverer
- Johann Schmidt / Wilhelm Tempel
- Discovery Site
- Athens Observatory
- Discovery Date
- 2 July 1862
- Designations
- Comet Schmidt–Tempel / 1862 IIICQ1
- Orbit Ref
- Horizons · jpl1
- Epoch
- 4 July 1862 (JD 2401325.5)
- Observation Arc
- 29 days
- Obs
- 72
- Perihelion
- 0.981 AU
- Aphelion
- ~1,935 AU (inbound)
- Semimajor
- ~968 AU (inbound)
- Eccentricity
- 0.99898 (inbound) / 1.00002 (outbound)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The comet was discovered on 2 July 1862 by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt, then director of the National Observatory of Athens, and independently a few hours later by Wilhelm Tempel at Marseille Observatory. At discovery it was in the constellation Cassiopeia, tailless, with a coma 22 arcminutes across and visible to the naked eye; Tempel estimated its magnitude at 4–5. Schmidt observed it again on 4 July and noted a tail half a degree long. The comet passed 0.0982 AU from Earth on 4 July, making it the fourth closest known cometary approach of the 19th century. It then moved away from both Earth and the Sun, and brightening moonlight hampered further observations. The comet was last seen with the naked eye on 7 July, faded rapidly through the month, and was last observed on 31 July.
Reader's Guide
C/1862 N1 (Schmidt) holds significance primarily for its exceptionally close passage to Earth—0.0982 AU—ranking as the fourth closest cometary approach recorded in the 19th century. This proximity allowed it to be easily visible to the naked eye for several days after discovery, despite lacking a tail initially. The comet's rapid fading after its July 4 perigee and the interference of moonlight limited detailed study, but its independent discovery by two astronomers within hours underscores the interest it generated. The comet has been tentatively linked to the weak meteor shower ζ Arietids, which occurs between 13 and 25 August, with a minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.028 AU from Earth. This association, though not confirmed, adds to its legacy as a possible parent body of a minor meteor stream. Its non-periodic nature means it will not return, making the 1862 apparition the sole opportunity for observation.
Did You Know?
- The comet was discovered independently by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt and Wilhelm Tempel within hours of each other.
- It passed 0.0982 AU (14.69 million km) from Earth on 4 July 1862, the fourth closest cometary approach of the 19th century.
- The comet has been tentatively associated with the weak ζ Arietids meteor shower, observed between 13 and 25 August.
- It was last observed with the naked eye on 7 July 1862 and faded rapidly, with the final telescopic observation on 31 July.
More in Named Comets, Part 5 1-24
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