- Source: C/1864 R1 (Donati)
Comet Donati, formally designated as C/1864 R1, is a parabolic comet discovered in 1864. It was the last of five comets discovered by Italian astronomer, Giovanni Battista Donati.
Discovery and observations
The comet was already on its outbound flight when it was first spotted by Giovanni Battista Donati on the night of 10 September 1864, where it was initially located within the constellation Leo Minor. As a result, further observations of the comet became increasingly difficult as it slowly faded away, leading to astronomers being unable to obtain its precise orbital elements. The last known observation of the comet was recorded on 20 October 1864.
References
= Notes
== Citations
=External links
C/1864 R1 at the JPL Small-Body Database