Chinese astronomers report comet split

17 Jun 2002

Chinese astronomers have observed the splitting of the nucleus of the Hyakutake comet, which has divided into five pieces, the Xinhua news agency said Wednesday.

Astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing in eastern Jiangsu province reported the splitting of the comet's nucleus, based on observations on April 6, 11, and 13, Xinhua said. The position and shape of the pieces were changing rapidly, they said. Astrophysicist Chen Daohan attributed the split to solar influences.

Only 23 cases of comet nuclei splitting have been reported since the comet Biela split in 1846, Xinhua said.