by Chris Peterson » Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:50 pm
There's a lot going on with these comets. 252P is MUCH brighter than expected, its rapid brightening consistent with current or very recent fragmentation, which may explain BA14. More fragmentation is possible. This is reminiscent of Comet Biela, which fragmented (and was apparently destroyed) in the mid nineteenth century, but the debris of which remains as the Andromedid meteor shower. This pair of comets passes near enough the Earth that they may also create minor meteor showers (both southern, with radiant declinations of -16° and -39°).
252P will be back around in five years. BA14, maybe not, as it's only around 100 meters in diameter, meaning there may not be much left after this perihelion.
There's a lot going on with these comets. 252P is MUCH brighter than expected, its rapid brightening consistent with current or very recent fragmentation, which may explain BA14. More fragmentation is possible. This is reminiscent of Comet Biela, which fragmented (and was apparently destroyed) in the mid nineteenth century, but the debris of which remains as the Andromedid meteor shower. This pair of comets passes near enough the Earth that they may also create minor meteor showers (both southern, with radiant declinations of -16° and -39°).
252P will be back around in five years. BA14, maybe not, as it's only around 100 meters in diameter, meaning there may not be much left after this perihelion.