PHOTOMETRIC MONITORING OF 2060-CHIRON BRIGHTNESS AT PERIHELION

The results of photometric and spectroscopic observations of comet/ast eroid 2060 Chiron carried on at the Observatorio do Pico-dos-Dias (Bra zil) at the European Southern Observatory (Chile) and at the Mauna Kea Observatory (Hawaii) during 1996 are presented. The analysis of the p hotometric data shows that even at a minimum of brightness 2060 Chiron presents some activity. The absolute magnitude, H-v, varied from 6.79 in February to 6.22 in March. Therefore 2060 Chiron is still in a min imum of activity close to that of 1983-1985 and of 1994-1995. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.