The Influence of Solar Activity on Discoveries of Comets from Different Classes

Abstract

Abstract—The paper deals with the distribution of discovery dates of comets through phases of the 11‑year cycle of solar activity (SA). Four groups of comets are considered: long-period comets (LPCs) with an orbital period exceeding 200 yr, periodic comets (PCs) of Jupiter’s family, LPCs with a weak absolute brightness, and a group of LPC with perihelia near the plane perpendicular to the ecliptic. The analysis covers the comets found before the beginning of cycle 24. The earlier conclusion on the difference between PCs and LPCs has been confirmed. It has been determined that a single maximum in the PCs distribution corresponds to the postmaximum epoch of SA. In the weak LPCs, this maximum is absent. The distribution of the isolated group of LPCs with respect to SA is also different. In all of the cases, the decay period of cycles dominates the discoveries of comets.