* Astronomy

2012 Comet Awards Announced

The Minor Planet Center, located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) in Cambridge, Mass., has announced the recipients of the 2012 Edgar Wilson Award for the discovery of comets by amateurs. This is the fourteenth consecutive year that these Awards have been given; money for the Awards was set aside as part of the will bequeathed by the late businessman Edgar Wilson of Lexington, Kentucky, and administered by the SAO.

The following five discoverers receive plaques and a cash award this year:

• Leonid Elenin of Russia, for his discovery of comet P/2011 NO1 on 2011 July 7
• Artyom Novichonok of Russia, for his co-discovery of comet P/2011 R3 on 2011 Sept. 7
• Vladimir Gerke of Russia, for his co-discovery of comet P/2011 R3 on 2011 Sept. 7
• Terry Lovejoy of Australia, for his discovery of comet C/2011 W3 on 2011 Nov. 27
• Fred Bruenjes of Warrenburg, Missouri, for his discovery of comet C/2012 C2 on 2012 Feb. 11

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