News - January 2005

2005 January 29

Comet P/2004 Y1 (Christensen) has received the permanent numbering 164P/Christensen.
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

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

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 14^m. (MPEC 2005-B25)

2005 January 17

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 17^m 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 16^th comet discovery. (IAUC 8466 subscription required, MPEC 2005-B13)
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 11.6^m. The principle observing conditions did not change - at its brightest the comet is a southern hemisphere object. MPEC 2005-B03)

2005 January 14

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 15^m 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 10^m in spring 2005, but only observable from the southern hemisphere. This is LINEARs 155^th comet discovery. (IAUC 8463 subscription required, MPEC 2005-A56)
An asteroidal object travelling in a cometary orbit has been discovered by LINEAR Dec. 31, 2004. The 19^m 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)
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

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 18^th member of the Marsden group. Official SOHO comets: 878. (MPEC 2005-A12, MPEC 2005-A13)