"The 2009 Apparition of Methuselah Comet 107P/Wilson-Harrington: A Case of Comet Rejuvenation?"

TL;DR

This study analyzes the activity, age, and physical properties of comet 107P/Wilson-Harrington, suggesting it is a near-dormant, rejuvenated comet with specific physical dimensions and a defined 'graveyard' region for comets.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements and age estimates for 107P/Wilson-Harrington, and introduces the concept of a comet graveyard region, highlighting its rejuvenation due to perihelion distance changes.

Findings

Comet 107P/Wilson-Harrington was active in multiple years including 2009.

Estimated age of the comet is approximately 4700 to 7800 comet years.

Identified the comet as near dormancy and temporarily rejuvenated.

Abstract

(1) We find that comet 107P/WH was active in 1949, 1979, 1992, 2005, and 2009. (2) Its age can be measured. We find T-AGE=4700 comet years, WB-AGE=7800 cy. (3) This is a methuselah comet very near to its dormancy phase, being temporarily rejuvenated due to a diminution of its perihelion distance. (4) We measured the diameter as Deffe=3.67\pm0.06 km, and the rotational period, Prot=6.093\pm0.002 h. (5) We define the region of the graveyard of comets, and three comets belong to the graveyard: 107P/Wilson-Harrington, 133P/Elst-Pizarro and D/1891W1 Blanpain.