Comet C/2012 L1 (LINEAR)
Abstract
An apparently asteroidal object discovery by the LINEAR survey (discovery observations tabulated below), and posted on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, has been found to show cometary appearance by other CCD astrometrists. S. Gajdos and J. Vilagi (Modra, Slovakia; 0.6-m f/5.5 reflector presumed) write that thirty stacked 60-s images taken on June 2.9 UT show a condensed coma with a diameter of up to 7", elongated in p.a. about 210 deg with a tail as long as 40" in the same position angle. H. Sato (Tokyo, Japan; remotely with a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph at the RAS Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; June 3.25) finds a moderately condensed coma 10" in diameter; Sato also obtained images with a 0.51-m f/6.8 astrograph on June 5.4 that show a moderately condensed coma 10"-12" in diameter with a hint of a tail 15" long toward p.a. 210 deg. Stacked images taken by R. Holmes (Ashmore, IL, USA; 0.61-m f/4 astrograph; June 3.3; measured by T. Vorobjov, L. Buzzi, and S. Foglia) show a 8" coma of mag 18.4-18.5 and a tail 25" long in p.a. 220 deg; additional frames taken by Holmes on June 5.3 (measured by Buzzi, H. Devore, Foglia, and Vorobjov) show a 10" coma and a tail 30" long in p.a. 215 deg. E. Bryssinck (Kruibeke, Belgium) obtained images on June 4.3 with a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph located at the RAS Observatory (iTelescope network) near Mayhill; his stacked unfiltered images show a coma of size 9" x 16", elongated toward the southwest (p.a. 228 deg). Images taken by T. Vorobjov (1.3-m f/13 Cassegrain reflector) on June 5.4 shows a tail 20" long in p.a. 220 deg. 2012 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Observer June 1.32994 19 35 39.81 +66 31 09.9 19.0 LINEAR 1.34053 19 35 38.89 +66 31 26.3 18.7 " 1.35121 19 35 37.74 +66 31 42.9 19.2 " 1.36203 19 35 37.04 +66 32 00.0 19.3 " The available astrometry, the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements by G. V. Williams, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2012-L12. T = 2012 Dec. 23.0799 TT Peri. = 138.4481 Node = 271.8547 2000.0 q = 2.313772 AU Incl. = 87.2278
- Publication:
-
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- June 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012CBET.3134....1G