A Survey of Possible Missions to the Periodic Comets in the Interval 1974-2010

Abstract

In order to survey the mission possibilities for the short period comets two catalogues are developed. In the first the physical and pertinent orbital characteristics are given for 65 short period comets. Since missions for short period comets are for the most part expected to utilize arrivals near perihelion at a time when the comet is comparatively active, the second catalogue is one containing the predicted perihelia for each of the 65 comets between 1974 and 2010. Included is enough geometry to indicate feasibility of Earth-based observation and sighting within 100 days of perihelion.