Comet
Schwassmann-Wachmann
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3-BQ
Where is it now
- Distance from Sun
- 3.859 AU
- True anomaly
- 211.87°
- As of
- 29 August 2026
Two-body Kepler propagation — accurate to ~0.1% for major planets over decades, less so for highly-perturbed bodies. Use JPL Horizons for high precision.
Orbital elements
- Semi-major axis
- 3.054 AU
- Eccentricity
- 0.6925
- Inclination
- 11.39°
- Orbital period
- 5.34 years
- Perihelion
- 0.939 AU
- Aphelion
- 5.168 AU
- Longitude of ascending node
- 69.87°
- Argument of periapsis
- 198.82°
- Epoch · J2000
- JD 2453894.80043 (perihelion)
Visual & observation
- Absolute magnitude (H)
- 20.8
- Spectral type
- JFc
Sources
- orbital elements: JPL SBDB (comets)