81P/Wild facts for kids
Enhanced image from the Stardust spacecraft
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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Paul Wild |
| Discovery date | 1978 |
| Designations | |
| 1978 XI; 1984 XIV; 1990 XXVIII |
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| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | March 6, 2006 |
| Aphelion | 5.308 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.592 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 3.45 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.5384 |
| Orbital period | 6.408 a |
| Inclination | 3.2394° |
| Last perihelion | September 25, 2003 |
| Next perihelion | 2010 |
Comet 81P/Wild, also known as Wild 2, is a comet named after Swiss astronomer Paul Wild (pronounced Vilt), who discovered it in 1978.
It is believed that for most of its 4.5 billion-year lifetime, Wild 2 had a more distant and circular orbit. In 1974, it passed within only about one million kilometers of the planet Jupiter, whose strong gravitational pull altered the comet's orbit and brought it into the inner solar system. Its orbital period changed from 40 years to about 6 years, and its perihelion is now about 1.59 AU (astronomical unit).
Gallery
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Photograph taken by Stardust spacecraft
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Details of the plume jets
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Red/green stereo anaglyph
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Stardust Approach Image
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Images for kids
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Wild 2 from Earth
See also
In Spanish: 81P/Wild para niños
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81P/Wild Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.