Comet C/2017 C1 (Neowise)
Abstract
James Bauer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reports the discovery of another comet found on infrared images taken with the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (or NEOWISE; formerly the WISE earth- orbiting satellite; cf. CBET 4225). The discovery observations are tabulated below, in which the listed optical-wavelength magnitude was roughly estimated based on past WISE and NEOWISE cometary observations. The images appeared to show a weak extended coma, but Bauer wasn't absolutely sure, and the object was posted on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage. 2017 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Feb. 6.09420 17 22 14.63 +60 41 48.9 19 6.09433 17 22 14.82 +60 41 50.0 6.22523 17 21 51.51 +60 44 56.6 6.35627 17 21 28.12 +60 48 02.8 6.48717 17 21 04.25 +60 51 10.5 6.61820 17 20 40.41 +60 54 17.4 6.74911 17 20 16.05 +60 57 30.1 6.88014 17 19 51.79 +61 00 39.0 Follow-up CCD images were obtained by W. H. Ryan and E. V. Ryan at Magdalena Ridge Observatory with the 2.4-m f/8.9 reflector (+ G-band filter) on Feb. 10.45-10.47 UT, showing a distinct coma and wide tail elongated toward p.a. about 325 deg (magnitude 19.6-20.0); additional images taken on Feb. 11.4 clearly show a coma even in poor atmospheric conditions.
- Publication:
-
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams
- Pub Date:
- February 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017CBET.4358....1R