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Re: IN SYMPATHY to the Hale-Bopp Cooperative


Article: <5fpej6$fjn@sjx-ixn3.ix.netcom.com>
From: saquo@ix.netcom.com(Nancy )
Subject: Re: IN SYMPATHY to the Hale-Bopp Cooperative
Date: 7 Mar 1997 16:09:10 GMT

In article <5fn2sh$725@news.Hawaii.Edu> David Tholen writes:
>> JPL put forth, in their own words, the fact that the
>> Hale-Bopp orbit had Hale Bopp supposedly SEEN,
>> OBSERVED, at Dec -15 09 20 S on May 28, when
>> Jupiter was at Dec -22 19 03 S. Then on June 27,
>> Hale-Bopp was supposedly SEEN, OBSERVED, to
>> be at Dec -12 17 04 when Jupiter was at Dec -22 48 45 S,
>> A LEAP AWAY FROM JUPITER of 3 arc minutes!
>> saquo@ix.netcom.com
>
> It's no leap, Nancy. Jupiter has a low inclination orbit,
> therefore its orbital motion between May 28 and June 27
> will keep it near the ecliptic. On the other hand, Hale-Bopp
> has a high inclination orbit, so its orbital motion between
> May 28 and June 27 will carry it more perpendicular to
> the ecliptic.
> tholen@ifa.hawaii.edu

You're getting closer, Dave, but still not addressing the issue. It's no mystery that the published orbit of the mythical Hale-Bopp had it rising UP while Jupiter was hanging around the ecliptic. The issue is WHY JPL jumped it from Dec -15, where it was observed on May 23, 1996 to Dec -12 for the same date, based on observations between May 23 and June 27, 1996, a move AWAY from Jupiter. Do comets perturb away from Jupiter, leap away?