2020/07/02 by Quanzhi Ye, Ye, Quanzhi, Tony L. Farnham +8
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.EP
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2007.01368
Submitted to RNAAS
arxiv created 2020/07/02 · openalex publication_date 2020/07/02 · arxiv updated 2020/07/06 · openalex created_date 2020/07/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
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 nucleus radius of 17±6 km from the nucleus photometry, though this number is likely an overestimation due to the contamination from dust and gas. Continuing monitoring is encouraged in anticipation of the comet's forthcoming perihelion in 2024 April.