News - April 2009

2009 April 27

R. Kracht (Elmshorn) was able to precover comet 2001 D1 = 2004 X7 = 2008 S2 in three SOHO/C2 images of May 1, 1997. The orbital solution by B. G. Marsden for comet 1997 J6 (SOHO) used non-gravitational parameters, which may be a confirmation that the object is really cometary. (MPEC 2009-H56)

2009 April 19

Recovery!: On Mar. 31, 2009, the LINEAR team reported a single-night candidate for the recovery of comet P/2003 H4 at about 19.4-19.8^m. On Apr. 15, G. Sostero, E. Prosperi, E. Guido, and P. Camilleri reported their recovery of this comet remotely observing from Grove Creek. They reported magnitudes of 19.5-19.7^m. Comet P/2009 F7 (LINEAR) will pass perihelion on Jun. 22, 2009, at about 1.70 AU. The period is about 6.10 years. The correction to the prediction on MPC 56804 and the Comet Handbook 2008/2009 is -0.13 day. (IAUC 9038, subscription required)
New permanent numbering: P/2009 F3 = P/2001 MD₇ = 217P. (IAUC 9038, subscription required)
Recovery!: E. Guido, G. Sostero, P. Camilleri, and E. Prosperi report their recovery of comet P/2002 LZ₁₁ on Apr. 17, (remotely from near Mayhill) and 18 (remotely from near Sonoita) at 18.8-19.4^m. Comet P/2009 H1 (LINEAR) will pass perihelion on Mar. 5.73, 2010, at about 2.36 AU. The period is about 6.99 years. The correction to the prediction on MPC 59599 and the Comet Handbook 2008/2009 is -0.4 day. (IAUC 9039, subscription required)

2009 April 09

New Discovery!: J. Ruan reports his discovery of a possible new comet in images taken with the SECCHI HI-1B instrument aboard the STEREO spacecraft in images starting on Apr. 3, 2009. The about 10.5^m comet C/2009 F1 (STEREO) will pass perihelion according to the preliminary elements on Apr. 12, 2009, at about 1.1 AU. The comet may become a little bit brighter during April but will be a southern-hemisphere object. This is the 13^th comet for STEREO. (IAUC 9036, subscription required, MPEC 2009-G30)

2009 April 08

New Discovery!: A further report about a possible discovery of a comet by Dae-am Yi (Yeongwol-kun, Gangwon-do, Korea) on Mar. 26, 2009, using a Canon 5D camera and a 90-mm f/2.8 lens was forwarded by H. Yamaoka (Kyushu University, Japan). Yi noted a 1' diameter and a magnitude of 12.5^m. This comet turned out to be identical with C/2009 F6. The first orbit for the now 8-9^m comet C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN) shows perihelion on May 8, 2009, at about 1.3 AU. The comet will become slightly brighter and while changing from the morning to the evening sky it will fall below 30° elongation in May.
A prediscovery observation by S. Korotkiy (Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia) of Mar. 25, with a Canon EOS 20D and a 50-mm lens showing the comet at G magnitude 10.7, was also reported. (IAUC 9035, subscription required, MPEC 2009-G21, Comets Mailing List)

2009 April 07

New Discovery!: R. D. Matson reports his discovery of a possible new comet on images taken with the SWAN ultra-violet imager aboard the SOHO spacecraft. After notification of several observers and the placement of the object on the NEO Confirmation Page numerous confirmations have been reported. Besides many CCD confirmations the following visual data have been reported: April 6.15, 8.2^m, 6' (J. J. Gonzales, Spain, 15-cm reflector), 6.91, 9.7^m, 2' (V. Nevski, Belorussia, 30-cm reflector), April 7.10, 10^m:, 2' (B. King, MN, USA, 37-cm reflector).
There is no orbit available yet for comet C/2009 F6, which is best visible in the morning sky from the northern hemisphere. A search ephemeris can be generated on the NEOCP. (IAUC 9034, subscription required, Comets Mailing List)