Comet P/2018 P6 = P/2008 O2 (McNaught)

G. V. Williams, Minor Planet Center, reports the recovery of comet P/2008 O2 (cf. IAUCs 8963, 8965) in incidental astrometry identified by himself but reported as an apparently asteroidal object on Aug. 8.5 UT by the Pan-STARRS1 team with the 1.8-m reflector at Haleakala (observers listed as J. Bulger, T. Lowe, A. Schultz, and M. Willman) and on Sept. 6.1 from images obtained with a 2.6-m f/5.5 reflector at Cerro Paranal by M. Altmann and T. Prusti. 2018 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Observer Aug. 8.49618 23 22 21.31 - 0 12 55.5 22.4 Bulger 8.51981 23 22 20.73 - 0 12 55.3 22.2 " 8.53163 23 22 20.45 - 0 12 55.4 22.4 " Sept. 6.12801 23 06 56.03 - 0 43 46.0 21.9 Altmann 6.12921 23 06 55.99 - 0 43 45.7 21.9 " 6.13042 23 06 55.93 - 0 43 45.8 21.7 " 6.13162 23 06 55.89 - 0 43 46.0 21.9 " 6.13283 23 06 55.84 - 0 43 46.4 21.7 " 6.13404 23 06 55.80 - 0 43 46.3 21.7 " 6.13528 23 06 55.76 - 0 43 46.3 21.8 " 6.13648 23 06 55.71 - 0 43 46.7 21.5 " 6.13890 23 06 55.61 - 0 43 46.6 21.7 " The indicated correction to the prediction by Williams on MPC 94681 is Delta(T) = -0.52 day. The following linked orbital elements by Williams (from 377 observations spanning 2008 July 28-2018 Sept. 6) and an updated ephemeris can be found on MPEC 2018-S01. Epoch = 2018 Oct. 9.0 TT T = 2018 Oct. 19.38163 TT Peri. = 26.93620 e = 0.1517165 Node = 325.84389 2000.0 q = 3.8151372 AU Incl. = 9.51111 a = 4.4974790 AU n = 0.10333569 P = 9.54 years