Comet C/2012 Q1 (Kowalski)
Abstract
R. A. Kowalski reports his discovery of a comet on images taken with the Mount Lemmon 1.5-m reflector (discovery observations tabulated below), with four 60-s confirming exposures showing a faint, round coma extending from a slightly diffuse nuclear condensation approximately 20" in diameter. After being posted on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, other cometary astrometrists have also commented on the object's cometary appearance. Images taken by R. Holmes (Ashmore, IL, USA; 0.61-m f/4 astrograph; measurers S. Foglia, L. Buzzi, and T. Vorobjov) without moonlight on Sept. 4.1 UT show a round coma at least 8" wide. Images taken by P. Miller, P. Roche, A. Tripp, R. Miles, R. Holmes, S. Foglia, and L. Buzzi (measured by L. Buzzi, S. Foglia, and T. Vorobjov) with the 2.0-m f/10 "Faulkes Telescope South" reflector at Siding Spring on Sept. 4.5 shows the comet to be clearly softer than stars nearby, with a round coma 5" wide. 2012 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Aug. 28.19554 22 13 01.23 +15 29 18.4 18.7 28.20485 22 13 01.12 +15 29 16.6 19.0 28.21411 22 13 01.02 +15 29 15.0 18.8 28.22340 22 13 00.84 +15 29 13.1 19.1 28.27486 22 13 00.04 +15 29 02.9 18.6 28.28495 22 12 59.90 +15 29 01.6 18.9 28.29508 22 12 59.76 +15 28 59.1 18.9 28.30524 22 12 59.58 +15 28 56.8 18.6 The available astrometry, the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements by G. V. Williams, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2012-R08. T = 2015 Nov. 28.0762 TT Peri. = 209.3612 Node = 174.2854 2000.0 q = 8.582941 AU Incl. = 60.3588
- Publication:
-
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- September 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012CBET.3216....2K