Comet P/2004 WR_9 (linear)
Abstract
An apparently asteroidal object discovered by LINEAR, and published as
2004 WR_9 on MPO 120656 (discovery observation below), has been found to show cometary appearance. P. Birtwhistle, Great Shefford, U.K., reports that CCD images taken on Dec. 7.0 UT with a 0.30-m f/6.3 reflector show the object as having a tail 20" long in p.a. 235 deg and a very concentrated coma with a diameter of 9", while on images from Dec. 3.0, there had been a suggestion of a 10" tail in p.a. 250 deg. C. Hergenrother reports that R-band images taken with the Catalina 1.54-m reflector on Dec. 8.45 show a highly condensed coma 11" in diameter and a faint tail > 25" long in p.a. 235 deg. 2004 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Nov. 22.32392 5 31 41.94 +30 19 19.2 18.7 The available astrometry, the following orbital elements, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2004-X28. T = 2005 Jan. 11.3666 TT Peri. = 70.5784 e = 0.683440 Node = 25.4444 2000.0 q = 1.917200 AU Incl. = 5.0473 a = 6.056348 AU n = 0.0661284 P = 14.90 years- Publication:
-
International Astronomical Union Circular
- Pub Date:
- December 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004IAUC.8448....1B