Russian amateur astronomer discovers new comet
09:30, 12 September 2011
MOSCOW. September 12. KAZINFORM Russian amateur astronomer Artyom Novichonok, a student of Petrozavodsk university, made a discovery of a new comet, Russian astronomy popularizing website Astronet said on Sunday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The comet is the first comet discovered from Russian territory since 1989.
Novichonok's discovery was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union, the comet being designated P/2011 R3 (Novichonok), the Ka-Dar Observatory, where Novichonok made his discovery, said on its website.
Novichonok discovered the comet on 6 images taken in September using a 0.4-m Jigit telescope; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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