Comet P/2015 D6 (Lemmon-Panstarrs)
Abstract
Single-night apparently asteroidal observations (also tabulated below), obtained on Feb. 27.4 UT with the 1.5-m reflector at Mount Lemmon by R. A. Kowalski and R. G. Matheny, were then identified by G. V. Williams in Minor Planet Center data; the object had been posted on the MPC's NEOCP webpage on Feb. 27, but no additional observations were made as a result. 2015 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Observer Feb. 27.41405 11 14 05.22 +31 07 30.1 19.9 Kowalski 27.41848 11 14 05.05 +31 07 30.7 19.9 " 27.42292 11 14 04.89 +31 07 31.5 20.2 " 27.42735 11 14 04.75 +31 07 31.8 19.9 " Mar. 16.46774 11 04 16.02 +31 27 35.0 21.5 Pan-STARRS1 16.47823 11 04 15.65 +31 27 34.8 21.7 " 16.48881 11 04 15.29 +31 27 34.8 21.5 " 16.49944 11 04 14.91 +31 27 34.9 21.5 " After the comet was posted on the MPC's PCCP webpage, W. H. Ryan (Magdalena Ridge Observatory 2.4-m f/8.9 reflector) reports that his R-band CCD images taken on Mar. 17.2 UT show evidence of a small coma (mag 19.9-20.1) and a faint, wide tail at p.a. about 225 deg. The available astrometry (including pre-discovery Mount Lemmon observations from Mar. 9.3 UT, when the magnitude was given as 20.4-21.0), the following preliminary elliptical orbital elements by Williams, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2015-F31. Epoch = 2015 June 27.0 TT T = 2015 July 7.4405 TT Peri. = 124.7815 e = 0.364819 Node = 46.2817 2000.0 q = 4.574868 AU Incl. = 20.2018 a = 7.202459 AU n = 0.0509897 P = 19.33 years
- Publication:
-
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- March 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015CBET.4076....2K