P/1997 B1

P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi)
Discovery
Discovered by Takao Kobayashi
Epoch 2450506.5
(February 27, 1997)
Aphelion 15.1 AU
Perihelion 2.054 AU
last perihelion: January 30–31, 1997
Semi-major axis 8.6 AU
Eccentricity 0.761
Orbital period 25.17 a[1]
Inclination 12.4°

On January 30 and January 31, 1997, Takao Kobayashi observed an object, P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi), which was initially thought to be a minor planet and was reported to the IAU as such by S. Nakano. Over the next few days, the object was observed to be in a cometary orbit. W. Offutt later showed it to be a comet.[2] This is the first amateur CCD discovery of a comet and is also the faintest amateur discovery. It demonstrates that amateur astronomers still have a role to play in the field of astronomical object discovery.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi)". JPL. 1997-01-30 last obs. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dJ97B010. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
  2. ^ "THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1171". THE ASTRONOMER. http://www.theastronomer.org/tacirc/1997/e1171.txt. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
  3. ^ "Current comets". Jonathan Shanklin. http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/coms97.htm#97B1. Retrieved 2009-12-22.