Copyright © 1998 by Akimasa Nakamura (Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory, Japan)

This CCD image was taken on 1998 February 2.74 UT, using a 0.60-m f/6 Ritchey-Chretien telescope.

      Joe Montani (Lunar and Planetary Laboratory) discovered this comet on a CCD image obtained with the 0.9-m Spacewatch telescope on 1997 April 9.14. The total magnitude was then determined as 19.1 and there was a tail extending 2 arcmin toward PA 285°. James V. Scotti (Lunar and Planetary Laboratory) confirmed the comet on CCD images exposed on April 10.12 and 10.13. He determined the magnitude as 19.4 to 19.9 and noted a coma measuring 10 arcsec across. The tail was extending 1.3 arcmin toward PA 284°. There was a nuclear condensation of magnitude 21.4.

• Brian G. Marsden (Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams) computed first published a parabolic orbit on 1997 April 12. This indicated a perihelion date of 1997 September 14.99 and a perihelion distance of 4.306 AU. He noted the orbit was "extremely uncertain," because of the probable large distance from Earth, and pointed out that the comet could be of short period. On May 24 Marsden published an elliptical orbit that confirmed the comet's short-period nature. This indicated a perihelion date of 1997 April 26.76, a perihelion distance of 4.24 AU, and an orbital period of 21.80 years. After over two months of observations the general correctness of Marsden's very early orbit was supported by several other astronomers. The perihelion date was revised to April 6.7 and the orbital period was revised to 19.41 years.
• The comet was last detected on 1997 December 5.82 when observers at Saji Observatory determined the magnitude as 18.8.