![[Comet 2P/Encke in November, December 2003 and January 2004 : Size = 12074 bytes]](encke.gif)
Comet 2P/Encke has been "discovered" a number of times (1786 by Pierre Méchain, 1795 by Caroline Herschel, 1805 by Jean Louis Pons, Johann Sigismund Huth and Alexis Bouvard, 1818 by Jean Louis Pons) but it is named for Johann Franz Encke who first recognised that these four comets were one in the same.
Making a solar fly-past every 3.3 years, 2P/Encke has the shortest period of any known periodic comet. Its eccentricity is approximately 0.85 which gives it a very elongated orbit extending from inside the orbit of Mercury nearly all the way out to Jupiter. With the proper equipment, this comet can be detected anywhere in its orbit. The dust from this comet is responsible for a number of minor meteor showers with radients in the constellation Taurus.
The comet should attain naked-eye visibility from mid-December to mid-January. At other times, optical aids will be necessary to see it. The diagram above shows the comet at three-day intervals, beginning 1 November 2003 (north of the constellation Pegasus) and ending 31 January 2004 (in the constellation Sagittarius).
November: The comet is north of the constellation Pegasus and heading southwest. By mid-month, it is passing through Cygnus and has its closest approach to Earth on 17 November.
2P/Encke should make a fine target for northern-hemisphere-based binoculars and telescopes. Look for the comet in the evening towards the south and west.
December: The comet is passing the northern boundaries of the constellation Ophiuchus. By Christmas, it is starting to curve back on itself and on 29 December, the comet reaches perihelion.
January: The comet is leaving the constellation Ophiuchus and is entering the rich star clouds of the Milky Way in the constellation Sagittarius.
Observers in the southern hemisphere will see 2P/Encke at its brightest during the months of December and January as the comet is near perihelion. However, great care must be exercised when observing the comet during this time because it appears quite close to the Sun in the sky.
Copyright © 1995-2003 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman