Comet P/2014 A3 (Panstarrs)
Abstract
Bryce Bolin, Peter Veres, Richard Wainscoat and Larry Denneau report the discovery of a comet with a diffuse, non-stellar appearance in three 45-s w-band exposures taken with the Pan-STARRS1 telescope at Haleakala on Jan. 9 (discovery observations tabulated below): 2014 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Jan. 9.50731 8 37 02.55 + 0 27 04.2 21.1 9.52164 8 37 02.03 + 0 27 03.7 21.2 9.53601 8 37 01.52 + 0 27 03.3 21.0 After posting on the Minor Planet Center's PCCP webpage, other CCD astrometrists have also commented on the object's cometary appearance. J. V. Scotti writes that exposures taken with the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope at Kitt Peak on Jan. 10.45-10.48 show a coma of diameter 8" and a tail 0'.14 long in p.a. 300 degrees; twelve co-added follow-up exposures in heavy moonlight on Jan. 11.5 show a diffuse coma of diameter 13" with a 0'.65 tail in p.a. 274 degrees. H. Sato (Tokyo, Japan; remotely with an iTelescope 0.51-m f/6.8 astrograph + luminance filter near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; six stacked 120-s exposures; Jan. 10.5) reports a moderately condensed diffuse coma of diameter 12" and no obvious tail.
- Publication:
-
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014CBET.3782....2S