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Russian amateur astronomer discovers new comet

Russian amateur astronomer Artyom Novichonok, a student of Petrozavodsk University, made a discovery of a new comet, Russian astronomy website Astronet said on Sunday.

The comet is the first comet discovered from Russian territory since 1989.

Novichonok’s discovery was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union, the comet being designated P/2011 R3 (Novichonok), the Ka-Dar Observatory, where Novichonok made his discovery, said on its website.

Novichonok discovered the comet on six images taken in September using a 0.4-m Jigit telescope.