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
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 58th comet for the Catalina Sky Survey and the 8th 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 16m 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 48th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 9th 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 16.5m 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 47th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 42nd 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 19m 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 46th comet for the Siding Spring Survey
and the 41st 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 14m 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 8m, but will be located in southern hemisphere skies. This is the
18th comet for the Mt. Lemmon Survey and the 2nd 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 13.4m. 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 57th comet for the
Catalina Sky Survey.
(IAUC 8940, subscription required,
MPEC 2008-J17)