C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell)
hyperbolic comet
Comet McKenzie–Russell, formally designated as C/1989 Y2, is a hyperbolic comet that was discovered by Australian astronomers,
Patricia McKenzie and Kenneth S. Russell on December 1989.
Discovery and observations
Robert H. McNaught reported the discovery of a new comet that Patricia McKenzie found on photographic plates that Kenneth S. Russell took on 21 December 1989. Prediscovery images from Japan were taken in 19 December 1989 but went unnoticed until the next year. Orbital calculations of the comet revealed it was already on its outbound flight as it had reached perihelion a month before discovery, and as a result it continued to fade away in the following days. It was last observed on 24 January 1990.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell)” as hyperbolic 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 hyperbolic 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 Jul 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q110997194. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1989 and 1990.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. 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 “C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell) primary sources, C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell) archive and McKenzie 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 “C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell)”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie–Russell)” 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.