Comet Gehrels 3

Introduction

This simulation shows Comet 82P/Gehrels 3, which had a close encounter with Jupiter in 1970 which dramatically changed its orbit, and which will have a similar close encounter with Jupiter in 2063.

The simulation also contains the Sun, together with all known planets.

What you can do with it

If you run the simulation forward, you can watch the comet become a temporary moon of Jupiter between 2056 and 2064, with its closest approach to Jupiter in 2063. After leaving Jupiter in 2064, the comet's orbit about the Sun is significantly different from before the close encounter.

If you run the simulation backward, you can watch the comet become a temporary moon of Jupiter between 1966 and 1974, with its closest approach to Jupiter in 1970. Before arriving at Jupiter in 1966, the comet orbited the Sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, rather than between Mars and Jupiter.

Ideas for further investigation

You can find out more from the following website:

http://cometography.com/pcomets/082p.html

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