News - May 2008

2008 May 26

Further astrometry for comet 2008 J3 has shown that this comet is of short-period. The still somewhat uncertain orbit for comet P/2008 J3 (McNaught) indicates perihelion on Mar. 10, 2009, at about 2.3 AU. The period is about 7.7 years. (MPEC 2008-K33)

2008 May 24

Further STEREO comets (all named STEREO):

Designation  Group   Discoverer     Notes
C/2008 E5    Kreutz  A. Watson
C/2008 E6    Kreutz  R. Kracht

Official STEREO comets: 6 (MPEC 2008-K29)

2008 May 15

New Discovery!: R. E. Hill reports his discovery of a new comet on May 14, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page the cometary nature was confirmed by J. C. Pelle and N. Teamo (Punaauia), Y. Ikari (Moriyama), E. Guido and G. Sostero (remotely near Mayhill), and J. E. McGaha (Tucson). According to the first and preliminary orbit comet C/2008 J6 (Hill) already passed perihelion on Apr. 22, 2008, at about 2.1 AU. This is the 58^th comet for the Catalina Sky Survey and the 8^th for Hill. (IAUC 8945, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J78)
New Discovery!: G. J. Garradd reports his discovery of a new comet on May. 13, 2008, in the course of the Siding Spring Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (Belo Horizonte), J. C. Pelle and N. Teamo (Punaauia) and R. Ligustri (Talmassons, remotely from Moorook), were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 16^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2008 J5 (Garradd) indicates perihelion on May 03, 2008, at about 2.0 AU. This is the 48^th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 9^th for Garradd. (IAUC 8944, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J76)

2008 May 13

New Discovery!: R. H. McNaught reports his discovery of another new comet on May. 10, 2008, in the course of the Siding Spring Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page J. C. Pelle and N. Teamo (Punaauia) were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 16.5^m object, which is described as very diffuse. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2008 J4 (McNaught) indicates perihelion on Jun. 19, 2008, at about 0.4 AU. The comet is intrinsically faint and may not survive perihelion. This is the 47^th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 42^nd for McNaught. (IAUC 8943, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J69)
Further astrometry for comet 2008 J2 has shown that this comet is of short-period. The still somewhat uncertain orbit for comet P/2008 J2 (Beshore) indicates perihelion on Apr. 24, 2008, at about 2.5 AU. The period is about 6.3 years. (MPEC 2008-J68)

2008 May 12

New Discovery!: R. H. McNaught reports his discovery of a new comet on May. 10, 2008, in the course of the Siding Spring Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page A. C. Gilmore and P. M. Kilmartin (Mt. John) and N. Teamo (Punaauia) were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 19^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2008 J3 (McNaught) indicates perihelion already on Apr. 3, 2008, at about 3.5 AU. This is the 46^th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 41^st for McNaught. (IAUC 8942, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J64)

2008 May 7

New Discovery!: E. Beshore reports his discovery of a new comet on May 6, 2008, in the course of the Mt. Lemmon Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page J. C. Pelle and N. Teamo (Punaauia), A. C. Gilmore (Mt. John), G. Sostero and E. Guido (Remanzacco, remotely near Mayhill), P. Birtwhistle (Great Shefford), J. M. Aymami (Tiana), L. Buzzi (Varese), C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (Belo Horizonte), J. E. McGaha (Tucson), and J. Young (Table Mountain) were able to confirm the cometary nature of the 14^m object. The first and preliminary orbit for comet C/2008 J2 (Beshore) indicates perihelion on Oct. 7, 2008, at about 1.1 AU. The comet might then reach 8^m, but will be located in southern hemisphere skies. This is the 18^th comet for the Mt. Lemmon Survey and the 2^nd for Beshore. (IAUC 8941, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J39)

2008 May 3

New Discovery!: A. Boattini reports his discovery of a new comet on May 2, in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey. After posting on the NEO Confirmation Page the cometary nature was confirmed by A. Asami and T. Sakamoto (Bisei Spaceguard Center), R. Apitzsch (Wildberg), V. Gonano, E. Guido, and G. Sostero (Remanzacco), R. Ligustri (Talmassons), and J. M. Aymami (Tiana). A visual observation by A. Hale (Cloudcroft) gave 13.4^m. According to the first and preliminary orbit comet C/2008 J1 (Boattini) already passed perihelion on Mar. 17, 2008, at about 1.5 AU. It will become fainter now. This is the 57^th comet for the Catalina Sky Survey. (IAUC 8940, subscription required, MPEC 2008-J17)