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Comet 440P/KOBAYASHI   -  (= 1997 B1 = 2021 W2)

Discovery:  IAUC 6553

On Jan. 31 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reported observations on 1997 an. 30 and 31 by Takao Kobayashi of what appeared to be a minor planet.  Further observations through Feb. 2 showed the orbit to be decidedly cometary.  In response to our enquiry, W. Offutt verified that the object is indeed a comet.  Available CCD precise positions follow, observers reporting the comet as asteroidal except as noted.

Recovery: MPEC 2022-A164

An object observed on Jan. 11 UT at Purple Mountain Observatory, XuYi Station, reported as an NEOCP candidate was identified by the MPC as being a recovery of comet P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi).  The MPC then located an ITF tracklet taken on 2021 Nov. 29 at Kitt Peak-Bok (V00).  Additional detections were subsequently found by R. Weryk in Pan STARRS 1 (F51) and Pan STARRS 2 (F52) images from Nov. 2021 and Jan. 2022, noting a very condensed coma and 2" tail in the Jan. images.

Photometric data obtained from FOCAS-II software

                                   10x10  20x20  30x30  40x40  50x50  60x60   SNR   SB   COD

COMET         UTC                    +/-    +/-    +/-    +/-    +/-    +/-     N  FWHM  CAT

------------  -------------------  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  ----  ----  ---

440P          25/02/2022 21:24:27  18.39  18.35  18.41                        6.8  18.2  B96

440P          25/02/2022 21:24:27*  0.10   0.20   0.23                          3   3.8  Gai

440P          02/03/2022 22:25:00  18.53  18.15  18.25  18.25  17.92  17.59   6.4  18.4  B96

440P          02/03/2022 22:25:00*  0.14   0.27   0.27   0.48   0.45   0.42     3   3.8  Gai

                                                                     AFRHO         LOG

COMET         UTC                   DELTA    r    BOX "   MAG   RSR    CM    +/-  AFRHO  OBS

------------  -------------------   -----  -----  -----  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---

440P          25/02/2022 21:24:27    1.19   2.08  23.19  18.39    7      3     0  0.416  B96

440P          02/03/2022 22:25:00    1.21   2.08  22.79  18.23    6      3     0  0.492  B96