News - March 2008

2008 March 27

More observations for comet C/2008 E1 (Catalina) - including pre-discovery observations by Catalina of Nov. 13, 2007, show that this comet is of intermediate period with P = 34.9 years. (MPEC 2008-F36)

2008 March 26

Further SOHO comets (all named SOHO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/2008 E4    Kracht  H. Su          30^th member of the Kracht group, = C/2002 Q8?
C/2008 F1    Meyer   R. Kracht      85^th member of the Meyer group

Official SOHO comets: 1430 (MPEC 2008-F32)

2008 March 9

New Discovery!: G. J. Garradd reports his discovery of a new comet on Mar. 5, 2008, in the course of the Siding Spring Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page E. Guido and G. Sostero (remotely near Moorook, Australia) were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 18^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2008 E3 (Garradd) indicates perihelion on Oct 31, 2008, at about 5.3 AU. This is the 45^th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 8^th for Garradd. (IAUC 8927, subscription required, MPEC 2008-E70)

2008 March 6

The first STEREO comets (all named STEREO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/2008 D1    Kreutz  A. Watson
C/2008 D2    Kreutz  A. Watson
C/2008 D3    Kreutz  A. Watson
C/2008 D4    Kreutz  R. Kracht

Official STEREO comets: 4 (MPEC 2008-E58)

2008 March 5

New Discovery!: An apparently asteroidal object, found on Mar. 2, 2008, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey and posted on the NEO Confirmation Page was identified as a comet by P. Birtwhistle (Great Shefford), J. V. Scotti (Spacewatch), A. Boattini (Mt. Lemmon), and E. Guido and G. Sostero (Castellammare di Stabia, remotely near Mayhill). The first orbit for the 18^m comet C/2008 E1 (Catalina) shows perihelion on Oct. 29, 2008, at about 4.8 AU. This is the 56^th comet for the Catalina Sky Survey. (IAUC 8923, subscription required, MPEC 2008-E41)
Recovery!: An apparently asteroidal object, discovered on Mar. 3, 2008, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey and posted on the NEO Confirmation Page has been suggested to be identical with comet P/2003 KV₂ (LINEAR). The correction to the prediction on MPC 56801 is dT = +0.8 day. Comet P/2008 E2 (LINEAR) is about 19^m and will pass perihelion on May 19, 2008, at 1.1 AU. The period is 4.85 years. The comet may then become as bright as 15^m. (IAUC 8924, subscription required, IAUC 8925, subscription required)