Comet Crommelin is back
27P/Crommelin, which has returned many times with a 28-year
period, was discovered by Mr. Masamitsu Yamasaki as far back as in 1928.
Dr. Crommelin of the British Astronomical Association studied this periodic
comet, which had returned many times in the past, and the comet was named
Crommelin. Twenty-eight years later, at apparition of October 1956, Seki
rediscovered this comet in Kochi, the first in Japan. It was found 10 degrees
north of the position predicted by the British Astronomical Association.
Another 28 years later, in 1984, photographic observations were made with
the 60cm reflector at the newly established Geisei Observatory.
In the predawn sky of May 13, 2011, Geisei observed this
comet, the earliest observation for this year's apparition. I am fond of
this comet, as I have observed it at three apparitions. This year, the
comet has appeared in twilight skies close to the sun, which makes the
observation difficult.
This photograph was made with a Nikon D700. Mr. Shigeo Shimomoto
has image-processed two frames to create this beautiful photo
27P/Crommelin
A composite of two images: a 3-minute-exposure at 3:28 and a 5-minute exposure at 3:32, July 11, 2011
Copyright (C) 2011 Geisei Observatory