Comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake

On January 31, 1996, IAU circular 6299 reported the visual discovery of a comet by Yuji Hyakutake of Japan. Comet Hyakutake, also designated Comet C/1996 B2, approached within 0.1 AU of the Earth (about 15 million km) on March 25. Perihelion on May 1 saw the comet at a distance of 0.23 AU from the Sun. After perihelion, the comet should be visible in the southern hemisphere from the middle of May to early June.

Information on Comet Hyakutake

Perihelion distance: 0.23019 AU
Perihelion date: 01 May 1996 UT 09:30 (5:30 AM EDT)
Closest approach to Earth: 0.1 AU
Date of closest approach to Earth: 25 March 1996
Orbital inclination: 124.924 deg.
Orbital eccentricity: > 0.999784
Argument of perihelion: 130.165 deg.
Longitude of ascending node: 188.046 deg.
Pre-perihelion Orbital period: ~ 8,000 years
Post-perihelion Orbital period: ~ 14,000 years
Original Semi-major axis: ~ 400 AU

Epoch 2450270.50000 = 1996 July 6.00000
Ref. solution 46, 11 May 1996