Holetschek noted that the number of observed comets varies as a function of the difference between the heliocentric longitude of the Earth and that of the comet at the time of the perihelion passage of the comet on its first appearance. The statistics of 676 comets are analysed to assess the severity of the effect. It is found that it has a stronger influence on cometary orbital statistics than it does on cometary magnitude statistics.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
David W. Hughes (1983) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: