Half-month

The half-month is a calendar subdivision used in astronomy. Each calendar month is separated into two parts:

  • days 1 to 15
  • day 16 until the end of the month.

Newly identified small Solar System bodies, such as comets and asteroids, are given systematic designations that contain the half-month encoded as a letter of the English alphabet.[1][2] For example, an object discovered in the second half of January would be identified with the letter B; if found in the first half of February, the letter would be C. The letter I is not used, to prevent confusion with the number 1. Instead, the letters proceed directly from H (April 16–30) to J (May 1–15). The letter appears in the provisional designation, then when the object is confirmed the letter is incorporated into the comet designation (for comets) or minor planet designation (for asteroids and other minor planets).

Half-month letters[1]
LetterDates
AJanuary 1–15
BJanuary 16–31
CFebruary 1–15
DFebruary 16–29
EMarch 1–15
FMarch 16–31
GApril 1–15
HApril 16–30
LetterDates
JMay 1–15
KMay 16–31
LJune 1–15
MJune 16–30
NJuly 1–15
OJuly 16–31
PAugust 1–15
QAugust 16–31
LetterDates
RSeptember 1–15
SSeptember 16–30
TOctober 1–15
UOctober 16–31
VNovember 1–15
WNovember 16–30
XDecember 1–15
YDecember 16–31

References
  1. "New- And Old-Style Minor Planet Designations". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  2. "Naming of Astronomical Objects". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

See also
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