Orbit of Comet C/1850 Q1 (Bond)

Abstract

Comet C/1850 Q1 (Bond) is one of a number of comets catalogued with parabolic orbits. Given that there are sufficient observations, 104 in right ascension and 103 in declination, it proves possible to calculate a better orbit. Some of the difficulties of working with 19th century observations, which show considerable scatter, are discussed. Rectangular coordinates, both of the comet and the Sun, are interpolated by a recursive version of Aitken's method, rendering unnecessary the need to specify an order for the interpolation. Comet Bond's orbit is slightly hyperbolic.