Warning times for potentially hazardous long-period comets

POSTER

Abstract

Southwest Research Institute and Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing a program to avert collisions of potentially hazardous objects with Earth. Aggressive methods and continuous alertness will be needed to defend against objects with short warning times. In this study we discuss the threat posed by long-period comets. Although relatively rare but large and fast moving, their detection cannot be predicted because of their long orbital periods. For example, Comet C/1983 H1 was discovered on 27 April 1983, and passed Earth at a distance of 0.0312 AU on 11 May 1983. It has an orbital period of 963.22 years. We have developed a database of long-period comets over the last decade that includes dates of discovery, perihelion passage, perigee passage, and the associated distances. We summarize results of anticipated warning times for long-period comets to present nominal and worst-case scenarios for these potentially hazardous objects, given advances in modern telescopic facilities searching for such objects.

Authors

  • Susan Martinez

    UTSA, SwRI San Antonio

  • Dan Boice

    SwRI San Antonio

  • Andrey Chabanov

    West Texas A\&M University, Rhodes College, Texas Woman's University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas State University, Pajarito Scientific Corporation, Idaho National Laboratory, Duke University, UNC, Department of Chemistry, UTSA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UTSA, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Harvar-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, University of New Mexico, Maria Mitchel Observatory, NRAO, University of Alabama, Trinity University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, V. Alecsandri College, Bacau, Romania, University of Texas at Dallas, Argonne National Laboratory, Western Michigan University, Institute of Physics, UNAM, Mexico, University of North Texas - Chemistry, University of St. Thomas, SwRI San Antonio, Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Brownsville, SciPrint.org, The University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Tech, MIT, University of Tennessee, University of Michigan, ORNL, Texas A&M University-Commerce, University of Texas San Antonio, University of Texas at Brownsville, University of Dallas, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, SwRI, CU-Boulder, SwRI/UTSA, Southwest Research Institute, JILA, University of Colorado, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Angelo State University, St. Mary's University, Physics Department, University of South Florida, CINVESTAV, Queretaro, Mexico, Department of Physics, UCSD, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M University: Department of Physics, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, Paine College, Augusta, GA, University of Houston, University of Texas at Arlington, IREAP, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Air Force Research Laboratory, Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A\&M Universtity, College Station, Texas 77843, USA, Max-Planck Institut for Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1,D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany, The National Center for Mathematics and Physics, P.O. Box 6086, KACST, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia