News - July

2006 July 30

Further SOHO comets (all named SOHO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/2006 M8    Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 M9    Kreutz  T. Chen, H. Su
C/2006 N1    Kreutz  S. Farmer jr.
C/2006 N2    Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 N3    Kreutz  W. Xu

Official SOHO comets: 1173. (MPEC 2006-O62)

2006 July 24

Further SOHO comets (all named SOHO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/1999 V5    Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 K21   Kreutz  V. Bezugly
C/2006 L3    Kreutz  G. Sun
C/2006 L4    Kreutz  W. Xu
C/2006 L5    Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 L6    Kreutz  G. Sun
C/2006 L7    Kreutz  T. Hoffman
C/2006 L8    Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 M5    Kreutz  T. Chen
C/2006 M6    Kreutz  T. Hoffman
C/2006 M7    Kreutz  H. Su

Official SOHO comets: 1168. (MPEC 2006-O20, MPEC 2006-O21)

2006 July 17

D. Tibbets and G. Hug (Eskridge, KS, USA) report the recovery of comet P/1999 X1. The 18.5^m comet P/2006 O1 (Hug-Bell) will pass perihelion on July 6, 2006, at about 1.9 AU. The correction to the prediction was -0.12 day. The comet will reach its maximum brightness of 18^m in November/December 2006. (IAUC 8730, subscription neccessary, MPEC 2006-O03)
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has announced the 2006 Edgar Wilson Award for the discovery of comets. It is being divided among the following three individuals: Charles Wilson Juels (Fountain Hills, AZ, U.S.A.) and Paulo Renato Centeno Holvorcem (Campinas, Brazil) for C/2005 N1 (Juels-Holvorcem); and John Broughton (Reedy Creek, Qld., Australia) for P/2005 T5 (Broughton). (IAUC 8730, subscription neccessary)

2006 July 15

A new orbit for comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) improves the viewing conditions for northerners. According to the still preliminary orbit the comet will pass perihelion on Sep. 28, 2006, at about 0.8 AU. This would mean that the comet will become visible for Central Europe in September at maybe 8^m. The maximum brightness will be reached in October conveniently placed in the evening sky. The brightness values still have to be regarded as very uncertain. (MPEC 2006-N38)
Comet P/2006 M3 has received the permanent designation 177P/Barnard.

2006 July 13

New Discovery!: R. D. Matson (Irvine) and M. Mattiazzo (Adelaide) have independently reported the detection of a possible comet in SOHO/SWAN images starting from June 20, 2006. Southern hemisphere observers, asked for confirmation, were then successful in obtaining images of a new comet. T. Lovejoy (Thornlands) found an image taken on June 30, 2006, with a digital camera (100mm, f/3.5) stating a coma diameter of about 0.5' and a distinct greenish hue. Images taken by R. H. McNaught with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on July 12 show a strongly condensed coma and a short tail. The brightness of comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) is estimated to be about 12^m.
A very preliminary orbit indicates a perihelion on Aug. 24, 2006, at about 0.13 AU. This would mean that the comet will remain mainly a southern hemisphere object. It may also be visible in SOHO imagery in August. The possible maximum brightness remains unclear given the lack of reliable orbit and brightness data. The object, however, seems to be an intrinsically faint object and it may be possible that it will not survive a close perihelion. (IAUC 8729, subscription neccessary)

2006 July 03

Further SOHO comets (all named SOHO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/2006 K15   Kreutz  T. Chen
C/2006 K16   Kreutz  R. Matson
C/2006 K17   Kreutz  R. Matson
C/2006 K18   Kreutz  G. Sun
C/2006 K19   Kreutz  H. Su
C/2006 K20   Kreutz  T. Chen

Official SOHO comets: 1156. (MPEC 2006-M64)