• Further SOHO comets (all named SOHO):

  Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
  C/2009 C4    Kreutz  B. Zhou
  C/2009 C5    Kreutz  M. Kaluzny
  C/2009 D2    Kreutz  B. Zhou
  C/2009 D3    Kreutz  X. Ruan
  C/2009 D4    Kreutz  T. Hoffman
  C/2009 D5    Kreutz  M. Kusiak
  C/2009 D6    Meyer   R. Kracht      98th member of the Meyer group
  C/2009 D7    Kreutz  M. Uchina
  C/2009 D8    Meyer   B. Zhou        99th member of the Meyer group
  C/2009 E2    Kreutz  M. Kusiak/B. Zhou
  C/2009 E3    Meyer   E. Banach     100th member of the Meyer group
  C/2009 E4    Kreutz  W. Xu
  

  Official SOHO comets: 1612 (MPEC 2009-M54, MPEC 2009-M55, (MPEC 2009-N01)

• Further STEREO comets (all named STEREO):

  Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
  C/2009 B6    Kreutz  R. Matson
  C/2009 B7    Kreutz  R. Matson
  C/2009 C1    Kreutz  R. Kracht
  C/2009 C2    Kreutz  K. Battams
  

  Official STEREO comets: 17 (MPEC 2009-M37)

• New Discovery!: Rui Yang (Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China) and Xing Gao (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China) report their discovery of a new comet on June 15, 2009, in the course of their Xingming Sky Survey using a Canon 350D digital camera and a 10.7-cm f/2.8 lens at Yingming Obs., Mt. Nanshan. The 14^m comet was quickly confirmed by many observers after posting the object on the NEO Confirmation page, including E. Guido and G. Sostero (remotely from near Mayhill), L. Elenin (remotely from Tzec Maun Observatory), E. Prosperi and P. Camilleri (remotely from Grove Creek Observatory), M. Suzuki (remotely from Moorook), R. Ligustri (remotely from Moorook), and C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (also remotely from Moorook). The first and preliminary orbit for comet P/2009 L2 (Yang-Gao) indicates perihelion already on May 19, 2009, at about 1.3 AU. The period is about 6.6 years. This is the third amateur discovery in 2009, and the second for the Xingming Obs.
  The comet might be visually as bright as 12-13^m. (IAUC 9052, subscription required, MPEC 2009-M05)
• New permanent comet numberings:
  221P/LINEAR = P/2009 L1 = P/2002 JN₁₆
  (IAUC 9051, subscription required)

• Recovery!: L. Elenin (Lyubertsy) reports his recovery of comet P/2002 JN₁₆ (LINEAR) on June 1, and 3, remotely from Tzec Maun Observatory (near Mayhill). The recovery was confirmed by M. Schwartz (Tenagra Observatory, near Rio Rico) also on June 3. The 20^m comet P/2009 L1 (LINEAR) passed perihelion on Jan. 24, 2009, at about 1.78 AU. The period is about 6.49 years. The correction to the prediction on MPC 56802 and the 2008/09 Comet Handbook is -0.2 day. (CBET 1831, subscription required)
• Italian amateur astronomer and comet discoverer Mauro V. Zanotta died in a skiing accident on May 24, 2009, in the Mt. Blanc area at the age of 46. Mauro was co-discoverer of comet C/1991 Y1 (Zanotta-Brewington). An obituary by David H. Levy can be found here.

• New Discovery!: R. H. McNaught reports his discovery of a new comet on May 27, 2009, in the course of the Siding Spring Survey. After placement on the NEO Confirmation Page C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (Belo Horizonte), and G. Sostero, E. Guido, P. Camilleri, and E. Prosperi (remotely from Skylive-Grove Creek Observatory) were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 17^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2009 K5 (McNaught) shows perihelion on Apr. 18, 2010, at about 1.4 AU. The comet may reach 9^m in 2010. This is the 59^th comet for the Siding Spring survey and the 49^th for McNaught. (IAUC 9050, subscription required, MPEC 2009-K67)

• New Discovery!: E. Beshore reports his discovery of a new comet in the course of the Mt. Lemmon Survey on May 26, 2009. After placement on the NEO Confirmation Page W. H. Ryan (Magdalena Ridge) was able to confirm the cometary nature. The first and preliminary orbit for the 20^m comet C/2009 K3 (Beshore) shows perihelion on Jan. 9, 2011, at about 3.9 AU. This is the 26^th comet for the Mt. Lemmon survey and the 3^rd for Beshore. (IAUC 9047, subscription required, MPEC 2009-K62)
• New Discovery!: A. R. Gibbs reports his discovery of a new comet on May 27, 2009, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey. After placement on the NEO Confirmation Page J. Young (Table Mountain), M. Pietschnig (Alter Satzberg), M. Jäger (Stixendorf), E. Guido and G. Sostero (remotely from near Mayhill), and C. Hergenrother (LPL) confirmed the cometary nature of the 16^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2009 K4 (Gibbs) indicates perihelion on Jun. 18, 2009, at about 1.6 AU. The comet may be periodic. This is the 70^th comet discovery for Catalina and the 13^th for Gibbs. (IAUC 9048, subscription required, MPEC 2009-K63)
• Additional astrometry has shown that comet 2009 K1 is indeed of short period. The latest orbit for comet P/2009 K1 (Gibbs) shows a perihelion on Jun. 25, 2009, at about 1.32 AU. The period is about 7.03 years. (MPEC 2009-K48)

• New Discovery!: An apparently asteroidal object discovered on May 18, 2009, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey has been found cometary by follow-up observers after placement on the NEO Confirmation Page. W. H. Ryan (Magdalena Ridge), J. Young (Table Mountain), L. Bittesini, D. Di Maria, E. Pettarin, and F. Piani (Farra D'Isonzo), P. Birtwhistle (Great Shefford), and E. Guido (remotely from near Mayhill) remarked about the cometary nature of the 19^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2009 K2 (Catalina) indicates perihelion on Aug. 18, 2010, at about 3.8 AU. This is the 69^th comet discovery for Catalina. (IAUC 9045, subscription required, MPEC 2009-K20)

• New Discovery!: A. R. Gibbs reports his discovery of a new comet in the course of the Mt. Lemmon Survey on May 16, 2009. After placement on the NEO Confirmation Page S. Foglia (Novara Veveri, Italy) and R. Holmes (Charleston) were able to confirm the cometary nature. Pre-Discovery images obtained on Apr. 24, 2009, also by the Mt. Lemmon Survey, were also identified. The first and very preliminary orbit for the 19^m comet C/2009 K1 (Gibbs) shows perihelion on Jun. 15, 2009, at about 1.5 AU. It is most likely that the comet is of short period. This is the 25^th comet for the Mt. Lemmon survey and the 12^th for Gibbs. (IAUC 9044, subscription required, MPEC 2009-K12)
• New permanent comet numberings:
  218P/LINEAR = P/2009 F7 = P/2003 H4
  219P/LINEAR = P/2009 H1 = P/2002 LZ₁₁
  220P/McNaught = P/2009 H2 = P/2004 K2
  (IAUC 9043, subscription required)

• Recovery!: Periodic comet P/2004 K2 (McNaught) has been incidentally recovered in the course of the Spacewatch survey on Apr. 28, 2009, by T. H. Bressi, and identified by automatic procedures at the MPC. Subsequently, independent recovery observations were reported on May 1, and 3, by G. Muler, J. M. Ruiz, and R. Naves Observatorio Nazaret, Lanzarote). The 20^m comet P/2009 H2 (McNaught) will pass perihelion on Dec. 15, 2009, at about 1.55 AU. The period is about 5.50 years. The correction to the prediction on MPC 56805 and the 2008/09 Comet Handbook is -0.08 day. (IAUC 9040, subscription required)
• R. Kracht (Elmshorn) was able to link the Kracht group comets C/1996 x3, C/2002 S7, and C/2008 N4. While in MPEC 2008-P60 it was not clear whether 1996 X3, X6, or X5 would be the correct comet (there incorrectly given as S3..S6), the use of non-gravitational forces shows C/1996 X3 the correct comet. (MPEC 2009-J14)

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