129P/Shoemaker–Levy

For other comets discovered by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker, and David H. Levy, see Comet Shoemaker and Comet Levy.

129P/Shoemaker–Levy, also known as Shoemaker–Levy 3, is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (T_Jupiter > 3; a < a_Jupiter),^[4] and is a quasi-Hilda comet.^[5]

129P/Shoemaker-Levy

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 3 (bottom) by Spitzer Space Telescope
Discovery
Discovered by	Carolyn S. Shoemaker Eugene Merle Shoemaker David H. Levy
Discovery date	February 7, 1991
Designations
Alternative designations	1990 XXVII; 1996 U1
Orbital characteristics
Epoch	March 6, 2006
Aphelion	4.676 AU
Perihelion	2.807 AU
Semi-major axis	3.741 AU
Eccentricity	0.2497
Orbital period	7.237 a
Inclination	5.0108°
Last perihelion	2022-Nov-30[1] February 11, 2014[2] June 5, 2005
Next perihelion	2031-Nov-05[3]

This comet should not be confused with Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (D/1993 F2), which spectacularly crashed into Jupiter in 1994.

The nucleus of the comet is estimated to have a radius of 1.22 ± 0.1 km based on infrared imaging by the Spitzer Space Telescope.^[6]