Saturday, March 18, 2017

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for January 2017

During the month of January 2017, 4 new comets were discovered, cometary activity was detected for 1 previously discovered object (earlier designated as an asteroid) and there was 1 comet recovery. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here).  

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic  Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

Jan 6  Discovery of C/2017 A1 (PANSTARRS)
Jan 07 Discovery of P/2017 A2 = P/2011 A5 (PANSTARRS)
Jan 11 Discovery of C/2017 A3 (ELENIN)
Jan 28 Discovery of P/2017 B1 = 2010 EY_90 (LEMMON)



- Cometary activity detected

Jan 29 Cometary activity detected in 2016 VZ_18 = C/2016 VZ_18 (PANSTARRS)

- Comet Recoveries

Jan 30  Recovery of P/2010 J5 (McNAUGHT) as P/2017 B2

- Other news

Jan 8 CBET 4342, CBET 4345 (Jan. 12), CBET 4346 (Jan. 14) & CBET 4347 (Jan. 28) report that the following minor planets are binaries systems: (4296) VAN WOERKOM, (12326) SHIRASAKI, (6186) ZENON, (163693) ATIRA

Credit: Arecibo Observatory

by Ernesto Guido

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