Kazuo Kinoshita's calculation revealed that it passed only 0.13
A.U. from Jupiter in 1982, and the perihelion distance was reduced
from 4.2 A.U. down to 3.1 A.U. It was discovered in 1987 when it came
into inner part of the solar system and became bright for the first
time.
In the next return in 1997, it became much fainter than at the
discovery by 3 mag when recovered. But it started brightening rapidly
4 months prior to the perihelion passage. After the perihelion
passage, it reached to the same brightness as at the discovery.
In the next return in 2007, it was as bright as the previous
apparition before the perihelion passage. But it kept faint, did not
brighten as shown in the previous apparition, even after the
perihelion passage.
The nucleus was split into two pieces in 1997 apparition. The unusual
brightening in that apparition was probably a temporary event due to
the nuclear split. The comet should be usually 18-19 mag at best.
Kazuo Kinoshita's calculation revealed that it will pass only 0.28
A.U. from Jupiter in 2029, and the perihelion distance will be
increased up to 4.1 A.U. again. The comet will be extremely faint,
fainter than 22 mag at best, after that.
Profile
Not observed
Appeared before discovery
Not observed before discovery
