Discovery

     This comet was found during analysis of images obtained by the Coronagraph/Polarimeter instrument of the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. It was discovered by Sharon A. Beck (High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, Colorado, USA) during a routine investigation. Only two images were obtained which showed the comet's head, the first exposed on 1987 October 17.81405 and the second on October 17.87947. A third image obtained on Oct. 17.94491 had the head obscured by an artifact. The total brightness of the comet was estimated as magnitude -2.
     Beck's positions enabled B. G. Marsden to compute a parabolic orbit which indicated the comet was a member of the sungrazing family. He revealed the comet passed perihelion on 1987 October 18.027 at a distance of only 0.00627 AU. The comet did not survive its close passage by the sun.