Recovery of Returning Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks with the Lowell Discovery Telescope
Abstract
We report the recovery of returning Halley-type comet 12P/Pons-Brooks using the 4.3 m Lowell Discovery Telescope, at a heliocentric distance of 11.89 au. Comparative analysis with a dust model suggests that the comet may have been active since ∼30 au from the Sun. We derive a nuclear radius of 17 ± 6 km from the nucleus photometry, though this number is likely an overestimate due to the contamination from dust and gas. Continuing monitoring is encouraged in anticipation of the comet's forthcoming perihelion in 2024 April.
- Publication:
-
Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2007.01368
- Bibcode:
- 2020RNAAS...4..101Y
- Keywords:
-
- Comets;
- Short period comets;
- 280;
- 1452;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Submitted to RNAAS
