News - January 2005
2005 January 29
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Comet P/2004 Y1 (Christensen) has received the permanent numbering
164P/Christensen.
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Further SOHO Kreutz comets:
C/2004 Y9 (SOHO) (X. Gao), C/2004 Y11 (SOHO) (H. Su) and
C/2005 B2 (SOHO) (X. Leprette).
C/2004 Y10 (SOHO) (T. Hoffman) is not a member of any known comet group.
Official SOHO comets: 896.
(MPEC 2005-B62)
2005 January 22
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Further SOHO Kreutz comets:
C/2004 T8 (SOHO) (H. Su), C/2004 Y5 (SOHO) (B. Zhou),
C/2004 Y6 (SOHO) (H. Su), C/2004 Y7 (SOHO) (H. Su) and
C/2004 Y8 (SOHO) (H. Otterstedt). Official SOHO comets: 892.
(MPEC 2005-B39)
2005 January 18
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After re-measuring the astrometry of Catalina a orbit improvement led to the identification
of comet C/2005 B1 (Christensen) with the unusual minor planet 2004 FS101,
which was discovered by LINEAR on March 23, 2004, and observed by Spacewatch on March
18, and 26, 2004. The revised orbit now shows perihelion in February 2006, at about
3.2 AU. The comet may then reach 14m.
(MPEC 2005-B25)
2005 January 17
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New Discovery!:
On Jan. 16, 2005, E. Christensen discovered a new comet in the course of the
Catalina Sky Survey. After posting
on the NEO Confirmation Page J. Young (Table Mountain) and M. Tichy (Klet) were
able to confirm the cometary nature of the 17m object. The first and
very uncertain orbital elements for comet C/2005 B1 (Christensen) indicate
a perihelion in February 2005, at about 5.3 AU. This is Catalina's 16th
comet discovery.
(IAUC 8466 subscription required,
MPEC 2005-B13)
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Prediscovery images by LINEAR of comet C/2005 A1 (LINEAR) of Dec. 09, and
15, 2004, lead to a improved orbit for this comet. Perihelion is still on Apr.
10, 2005, but closer to the sun with about 0.9 AU. The comet has already
been observed visually by J. J. Gonzáles Suárez at 11.6m. The
principle observing conditions did not change - at its brightest the comet is a
southern hemisphere object.
MPEC 2005-B03)
2005 January 14
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New Discovery!:
On Jan. 13, 2005, the LINEAR survey
discovered a new comet. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page several
observers confirmed the cometary nature of the 15m object, among
them C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (Belo Horizonte) and J. Young (Table Mountain).
Comet C/2005 A1 (LINEAR) will pass perihelion according to the first
preliminary orbit in April 2005, at about 1.1 AU. It might reach 10m
in spring 2005, but only observable from the southern hemisphere. This is LINEARs
155th comet discovery.
(IAUC 8463 subscription required,
MPEC 2005-A56)
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An asteroidal object travelling in a cometary orbit has been discovered by
LINEAR Dec. 31, 2004. The 19m object 2004 YJ35
has a perihelion distance of about 1.8 AU and an eccentricity slightly smaller
than 1. Perihelion is in spring 2005. The MPC reports that there were contradicting
reports regarding a possible cometary appearance. Further close monitoring of
this object is recommended.
(MPEC 2005-A47)
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Further SOHO Kreutz comets:
C/2004 X6 (SOHO) (T. Hoffman), C/2004 X8 (SOHO) (R. Matson),
C/2004 X9 (SOHO) (K. Battams), C/2004 X10 (SOHO) (K. Battams),
C/2004 X11 (SOHO) (G. Gallina), C/2004 Y2 (SOHO) (H. Su) and
C/2004 Y3 (SOHO) (T. Scarmato).
C/2004 U7 (SOHO) (R. Kracht) and C/2004 Y4 (SOHO) (H. Otterstedt)
are not members of a known comet group. Official SOHO comets: 887.
(MPEC 2005-A40,
MPEC 2005-A41)
2005 January 07
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Further SOHO Kreutz comets:
C/2004 W7 (SOHO) (T. Hoffman), C/2004 W8 (SOHO) (X. Leprette),
C/2004 W9 (SOHO) (X. Gao), C/2004 W11 (SOHO) (R. Matson),
C/2004 X4 (SOHO) (S. Farmer) and C/2004 X5 (SOHO) (T. Hoffman).
C/2004 W10 (SOHO) (R. Kracht) is the 18th member of the
Marsden group.
Official SOHO comets: 878.
(MPEC 2005-A12,
MPEC 2005-A13)