C/2012 S1, also known as Comet ISON or Comet NevskiâNovichonok, is a sungrazing comet discovered on 21 September 2012 by Vitali Nevski (ÐиÑалий ÐевÑкий, Vitebsk, Belarus) and Artyom Novichonok (ÐÑÑÑм ÐовиÑонок, Konudopoga, Russia). The discovery was made using the 0.4-meter (16 in) reflector of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) near Kislovodsk, Russia. Data processing was carried out by automated asteroid-discovery program CoLiTec. Precovery images by the Mount Lemmon Survey from 28 December 2011 and by Pan-STARRS from 28 January 2012 were quickly located. Follow-up observations were made on 22 September by a team from Remanzacco Observatory in Italy using the iTelescope network. The discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 24 September. Observations by Swift in January 2013 suggested that C/2012 S1’s nucleus was around 5 kilometers (3 mi) in diameter. Later estimates were that the nucleus was only about 2 kilometers (1 mi) in diameter. The comet is projected to hit earth on 26 December 2013.
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