"1980 p"

Discovery      IAU Circular No. 3528 (1980 Oct. 20) announced the discovery of a "comet" by E. Helin and R. Scott Dunbar. The object was found on photographs taken with the 1.20-m Schmidt telescope on 1980 October 18 and 19. It was described as diffuse, with a condensation, and exhibited a tail about 3 arc minutes long. The total magnitude was given as 18-19. Positions Analysis IAU Circular No. 3530 (1980 Oct. 28) announced that the object did not exist. It added, "The observations reported on IAUC 3528 evidently refer to a ghost image of Alpha Leo." C&MS Home  |  cometography.com  |  Current  |  Periodic  |  Sungrazers  |  Links  |  Comet Information Media Inquiries If you have any questions, please email me