Comet C/2003 A2
Abstract
Arianna E. Gleason, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, reports her discovery of a slow-moving comet on Jan. 10.4 UT (discovery position below) with the Spacewatch II telescope at Kitt Peak; J. V. Scotti adds that there was a more-or-less symmetrical coma about 20" across. On making follow-up observations on Jan. 11.3 (after placement on The NEO Confirmation Page), D. T. Durig and H. H. Fry (Sewanee, TN, 0.3-m f/5.75 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector) confirmed a coma 15"-18" in diameter, and F. B. Zoltowski (Edgewood, NM, 0.3-m f/3.3 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector) noted that the coma/tail structure had the appearance of a broad fan from p.a. 20 deg northward through p.a. 200 deg. On Jan. 12.0, J. Ticha and M. Tichy (Klet Observatory, 1.06-m KLENOT Telescope) indicated a coma diameter of 8"-10", with m_1 = 20.2 and m_2 = 21.0. The object's cometary nature was also noted by T. Gehrels (Spacewatch II) on Jan. 11-13 and by J. G. Ries (McDonald Observatory, 0.76-m reflector) on Jan. 14.3. 2003 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1 Jan. 10.39264 8 55 59.44 +13 36 48.5 20.0 MPEC 2003-A78 contains the full astrometry and a very tentative parabolic orbit (assumed T = 2003 Jan. 10; hence q = 11.5 AU, i = 8 deg). It seems likely that the object is a Centaur, showing cometary activity as (2060) = 95P/Chiron has shown near perihelion.
- Publication:
-
International Astronomical Union Circular
- Pub Date:
- January 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUC.8049....1G