Comet Wilson, formally designated as C/1986 P1, is a non-periodic comet that was observed to split into two fragments in February 1988. It is the only comet discovered by Canadian–American physicist, Christine D. Wilson.
Observational history Discovery The comet was a 10th-magnitude object located within the constellation Pegasus upon discovery on 5 August 1986. Christine D. Wilson described the new comet as a diffuse object with a short tail pointed towards the southeast. Prediscovery images taken a day prior helped to verify the comet's existence and have follow-up observations to be conducted.
Follow-up observations Infrared imagery conducted in March 1987 has determined that comet Wilson has produced about seven times more dust than 21P/Giacobini–Zinner did during its 1985 apparition, but only half the average production to that of 1P/Halley, however it is later determined that it has not yet developed a dust mantle around its nucleus.
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