Comet P/2010 UH55 (Spacewatch)
Abstract
An apparently asteroidal reported by the Spacewatch survey (discovery observations tabulated below), and designated 2010 UH55 by the Minor Planet Center last year, has been found to show cometary activity. H. Sato (Tokyo, Japan) first reported the appearance of a condensed coma of size 6"-8" last year; his CCD images taken remotely on 2010 Nov. 17.4 UT taken with a 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector at the RAS Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A., suggest that the west side of the object appeared soft, with a hint of tail 12" long. Sato's report of cometary appearance remained unconfirmed until the past month, when he again found the object on 2011 Nov. 3.5 to be moderately condensed a faint coma of diameter 40" (and mag 18.8 within a circular aperture of radius 19".7) with a 55" tail in p.a. 290 degrees with a 0.51-m f/4.5 reflector at the same site.
- Publication:
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Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- November 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011CBET.2926....2S