A DOUBLE NUCLEUS OF COMET EVANS-DRINKWATER (C 1996 J1)/

The nucleus of comet C/1996 J1, whose duplicity was first detected in early May 1997, similar to 4 months after perihelion, is found to have split nontidally similar to 70 days before perihelion at 1.65 AU from the Sun. The secondary nucleus, discovered when in outburst and subse quently observed for 8-1/2 months, had separated from the primary nucl eus at a rate of 1.7 m/s and drifted away from it with a radial nongra vitational deceleration of similar to 31 x 10(-5) the Sun's attraction , typical for the short-lived companions. At the time of splitting, th is dynamically new comet was near conjunction with the Sun and therefo re unobservable from Earth. In late 1997 and early 1998, when last see n, the companion was greater than or similar to 100 times fainter rela tive to the primary component than it had been when first reported.