News - October 2001

10/26/2001

New Discovery!: An apparent main belt asteroid discovered on Sept. 10, 2001, by the LINEAR program (designated 2001 RX₁₄ on MPS 34978) showed a parabolic orbit after linking subsequent astrometric observations and pre-discovery observations by NEAT and LONEOS of Aug. 28. After placement on the NEO Confirmation Page more follow-up observations reported a cometary appearance. The now 16.5^m comet C/2001 RX₁₄ (LINEAR) will pass perihelion in January 2003, at about 2.1 AU. The comet may reach 9^m in Winter 2002/03, favourably placed for observers in the northern hemisphere. This is LINEARs 65^th new comet discovery. (IAUC 7739, MPEC 2001-U45)

10/25/2001

In the first half of October the LINEAR program discovered an asteroidal 16.5^m object. With subsequent astrometric observations and pre-discovery observations by NEAT of Aug. 24, 2001, a cometary orbit was calculated. The asteroid 2001 TX₁₆ has a period of about 6.8 years and will pass perihelion in January 2002, at about 1.4 AU. No cometary activity was noted by all observers. The asteroid may become as bright as 13^m in January and even brighter if cometary activity starts. There were approaches to Jupiter in 1985 (0.80 AU) and 1937 (0.73 AU). (MPEC 2001-U45) Close monitoring of this object is suggested.

10/24/2001

New Discovery!: S. Pravdo, E. F. Helin, M. Hicks, and K. Lawrence (JPL) report the discovery of another new comet in the course of the NEAT program on Oct. 15, 2001. With additional pre-discovery images by LONEOS of Aug. 27, 2001, a first orbit was calculated. The 19.5^m comet C/2001 T4 (NEAT) will pass its perihelion at the beginning of January 2002, at about 8.6 AU. It is of intermediate period with a P of about 53 years. (IAUC 7738, MPEC 2001-U41) This makes the comet a member of the Centaur class like 95P/Chiron. This is the 17^th new comet discovered by NEAT.

10/19/2001

New Discovery!: K. Lawrence, S. Pravdo, and E. Helin report the discovery of a new comet in the course of the NEAT program on Oct. 14, 2001. The 17^m comet P/2001 T3 (NEAT) is a short-periodic one with a period of about 15.9 years. It will pass its perihelion at the end of January 2002, at about 2.5 AU. (IAUC 7733, MPEC 2001-T58) This is the 16^th new comet found by NEAT.
Two SOHO comets received orbits and designations: C/2001 T1 (SOHO) was detected by X. Leprette and is a non-Kreutz comet. C/2001 T2 (SOHO) was detected by R. Kracht. (MPEC 2001-T52) The SOHO score is now at 356 comets.

10/07/2001

Two archival and one real-time SOHO comet received orbits and designations: C/1996 B5 (SOHO) was detected by X. Leprette, C/1996 R4 (SOHO) by M. Oates, and C/2001 S2 (SOHO) also by M. Oates. All comets are members of the Kreutz group. The SOHO score is now at 354 comets. (MPEC 2001-T15)