Russian astronomer Leonid Yelenin has discovered his third comet, Gazeta.ru reported Monday.
News of the comet was published on the website of the Minor Planet Center, which is part of the International Astronomical Union. The comet is currently located at a distance of about 0.877 astronomical units from Earth, and about 1.837 astronomical units from the sun. One astronomical unit is the average distance from Earth to the sun, about 149,600,000 kilometers.
The comet's orbit indicates that it will probably not get any closer to Earth, the report said. Yelenin gained fame in 2010 after becoming the first Russian to discover a comet in 20 years.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
