COMETS A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site IRAS-Araki-Alcock, Comet (C/1983 H1) IRAS image made at a wavelength of 25 microns. The bright red area represents the unresolved nucleus of the comet, while the fainter emission from the tail of the comet is yellow and blue A long-period comet that made an unusually close passage of Earth of just 0.031 AU (4.6 million km) on May 11, 1983. Because of this near approach – bettered only by Comet Lexell over the past two centuries – it became quite bright (second magnitude) for a few days even though it was actually a small comet. It was first detected by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite on April 25 and found independently by the Japanese amateur astronomer Genich Araki (1954-) and George Alcock (1912-2000) on May 3. Perihelion 0.99 AU (on May 21, 1983) Eccentricity 0.990 Inclination 73.3° Period about 1,000 years Related category    • COMETS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP