172P/Yeung
comet
172P/Yeung is a Jupiter-family comet with a 6.59-year orbit around the Sun. It is the first of two comets discovered by Hong Kong/Canadian astronomer, William Kwong Yu Yeung.
Observational history
It was initially thought as an apparently asteroid-like object from CCD images taken by Bill Yeung from the Apache Point Observatory on the night of 21 January 2002. Additional reports from the Minor Planet Center later identified that this comet is the same object as 2001 CB40, with precovery images dating as early as 20 October 1993. This relatively long observation arc for a newly discovered comet allowed it to receive a permanent numerical designation from the MPC as 172P.
Physical characteristics
Infrared observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope between 2006 and 2007 revealed that the nucleus of 172P/Yeung is about 5.6 km (3.5 mi) in radius.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “172P/Yeung” as comet. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as comet. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 2, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3495074. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2002, 2001, 1993 and 2006.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “172P/Yeung”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow 172P/Yeung primary sources, 172P/Yeung archive and 172P research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “172P/Yeung”?
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- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
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This entry incorporates text from “172P/Yeung” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.