C/1993 Y1 (McNaught–Russell)

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C/1993 Y1 (McNaught–Russell)
Discovery
Discovered byRobert H. McNaught
Kenneth S. Russell
Discovery siteSiding Spring Observatory
Discovery date17 December 1993
Designations
C/1993 Y1
C/574 G1
1994 XI
1993v
Orbital characteristics
Epoch28 April 1994 (JD 2449470.5)
Observation arc265 days
Number of
observations
377
Aphelion270 AU (inbound)
240 AU (outbound)
Perihelion0.8676 AU
Eccentricity0.9932
Orbital period1,600 years (inbound)
1,300 years (outbound)
1,430 ± 30 a
Inclination51.586°
166.359°
Argument of
periapsis
353.468°
Last perihelion31 March 1994
Next perihelion~3300
TJupiter0.755
Earth MOID0.1212 AU
Jupiter MOID2.6212 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
0.75±0.02 km
Mass7.1×1011 kg
Mean density
480±60 kg/m3
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
12.3
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
16.9
6.5
(1994 apparition)

Comet McNaught–Russell, formally designated as C/1993 Y1, is a long-period comet that reached a maximum magnitude of 6.5 (just below naked eye level) in early 1994. It was discovered by Robert H. McNaught and Kenneth S. Russell using the UK Schmidt Telescope in Australia. McNaught and Russell worked at Siding Spring Observatory and together discovered five comets between 1991 and 1995.