PREDNASAJUCI / LECTURER : 

Dušan Tomko

NAZOV / TITLE : 

(Un)mutual evolution of the comets C/2019Y4 and C/1844Y1

ABSTRAKT / ABSTRACT : 

Similar orbits of the comets could point to their possible common origin. 
The dynamical and geometrical similarity of the orbital elements of comets 
indicates a common origin, despite the fact that the perihelion passage times 
are different. The identity of the orbits of 1844Y1 and 2019Y4 was investigated 
by Hui & Ye (2020). Using numerical integration of the comets, they found that 
the split event in the comet pair of 1844Y1 and 2019Y4 occurred around the 
progenitor’s previous perihelion passage. We performed a numerical integration 
to find and confirm "genetic" relationship between comets C/2019Y4 and C/1844Y1. 
Our dynamical evolution of the orbits of comets C/1844 Y1 (Great comet) and 
C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) reveals that the Great comet passed from a hyperbolic orbit 
to an elliptic orbit roughly 82 kyr ago. The orbital transition could have 
been caused by a close approach of the comet to Mercury at a distance of 
0.038 au. The similarity of the orbits is unquestionable; but from a dynamic 
point of view, comets C/1844 Y1 and C/2019 Y4 have no common progenitor.