Machholz

Orbital elements

Semi-major axis

-6,294.759 AU

Eccentricity

1.0003

Inclination

130.64°

Perihelion

1.772 AU

Longitude of ascending node

290.68°

Argument of periapsis

224.75°

Epoch · J2000

JD 2443734.17263 (perihelion)

Orbit class · HYP

Hyperbolic comet

Earth MOID · 366.6 LD

0.9421 AU

Orbit quality

Observations used

46

Data arc

322 days

First observed

14 September 1978

Last observed

2 August 1979

Residual RMS

0.66 ″

Solution · Otto Matic

15 April 2021

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)

8.3

Total magnitude M₁ · K₁ 4.5

8.3

Discovery & classification

Also known as 1978 R3