Comet
Schwassmann-Wachmann
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3-L
Where is it now
- Distance from Sun
- 4.265 AU
- True anomaly
- 205.54°
- 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
- 3.076 AU
- Eccentricity
- 0.6947
- Inclination
- 11.4°
- Orbital period
- 5.4 years
- Perihelion
- 0.939 AU
- Aphelion
- 5.214 AU
- Longitude of ascending node
- 69.94°
- Argument of periapsis
- 198.75°
- Epoch · J2000
- JD 2453894.82870 (perihelion)
Visual & observation
- Absolute magnitude (H)
- 20.9
- Spectral type
- JFc
Sources
- orbital elements: JPL SBDB (comets)