Remanzacco Observatory - Comets & Neo

2012 BX34 - Close Approach

2012-01-27T15:20:00.001+01:00

Today, January 27, 2012 at about 15:25 UT, the asteroid designated 2012 BX34 will pass only 59,044 km (36,750 miles) or about ~0.2 lunar distance (or 0.0004 AU) above the Earth's surface. The asteroid was discovered by Catalina Sky Survey with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD on January 25, 2012 at magnitude ~20.

According to its absolute magnitude (H=27.6) this asteroid has an estimated diameter of roughly 8-18 meters, so it is very small. We have been able to follow-up this object few hours ago remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.10-m f/5 reflector + CCD.

At the moment of our images from New Mexico on January 27, 11:04UT, "2012 BX34" was moving at about ~318.86 "/min and its magnitude was ~15. At the moment of its close approach around 15UT of today, 2012 BX34 will be bright as magnitude ~13.8 and moving at ~1810 "/min.

Below you can see a single 120-seconds exposure showing the object as a ~11-arcminutes trail (due to its fast speed). Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

While this is an animation showing the object moving among the field stars. Each image was a 120-second exposure. Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

While there is no cause for concern, this is one of the closest approaches recorded. The table below shows the top 20 closest approaches by NEOs (Near-Earth Objects) sorted by nominal distance. The table has been computed on the NASA/Neo-JPL website (the event that took 2008 TC3 into the earth's atmosphere is not included). Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

Comet Images by Faulkes & Liverpool Telescopes

2012-01-17T14:11:00.001+01:00

Below you can find a selection of some of the comets we imaged in the last 2 weeks using the 2-meter telescopes of Faulkes (F65 & E10 MPC codes) and the La Palma-Liverpool (J13 MPC code). Click on each image for a bigger version.

Prompted by an alert of A. Diepvens on comet-images mailing list, on January 03 we perfomed some follow-up of C/2010 G2 (Hill); we confirm that this comet was experiencing a bright phase. Co-adding of 9 unfiltered exposures, 15 seconds each, obtained remotely from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2012, January 03.46 through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD reveals the comet as a bright featureless star-like object of magnitude 13.2 N

C/2010 G2 (Hill) - 2012, January 03

C/2010 G2 (Hill) - 2011, December 22 - 2012 January 10

C/2009 F4 (McNaught) - 2012, January 03

Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann - 2012, January 11

Comet 244P/Scotti - 2012, January 11

Comet 49P/Arend-Rigaux - 2012, January 11

Comet P/2011 W2 (RINNER) - 2012, January 11

Comet 164P/Christensen - 2012, January 11

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Giovanni Sostero

Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) approaches the Sun

2011-12-15T10:45:00.000+01:00

Australian amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy discovered on Nov. 27.7 his third comet, designated C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy). On our previous post about this comet you can see our follow-up image and animation.

C/2011 W3 is a Kreutz sungrazer, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

Many Kreutz sungrazer comets are observed each year by SOHO Sun-observing satellite. SOHO provides a constant view of the immediate solar vicinity and it has now discovered more than 2000 of new sungrazing comets, some just a few metres across. About 83% of the sungrazers found by SOHO are members of the Kreutz group, with the other being referred to as 'non-Kreutz' or 'sporadic' sungrazers (Meyer, Marsden, and Kracht 1 & 2 families).

Comet C/2011 W3 will probably be the brightest Kreutz-group comet that SOHO has ever observed. It will reach the perihelion on 2011 Dec. 16.02 when it will be it within 880,000 km of the center of the Sun (the comet will pass just 180,000 km from the Sun’s surface).

According to Karl Battams, the new comet Lovejoy:

1. The comet should enter the STEREO/SECCHI HI-1B images on Dec 11, and HI-1A on Dec 12

2. The comet will enter the SOHO/LASCO C3 field of view early on Dec 14
3. The comet will enter the STEREO/SECCHI COR-2 A & B fields of view early on Dec 15 (UT time), and the COR-1 fields later that day.

We downloaded "Secchi" spacecraft FITS of the Dec. 11 & 12, 2011, and played a little bit with them. Using the image processing algorythms (developed for the CARA collaboration by our fellow collaborator Martino Nicolini). On those images, it's already possible to appreciate a narrow tail, in excess of about 1 deg. Below you can see our renditions (click on the images for a bigger version):

While below you can see an animation showing comet Lovejoy in SECCHI HI-1B on December 11 & 12, 2011 (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version).

According to Dr. Matthew Knight (Lowell Observatory/JHU-APL), Comet Lovejoy was at approximately magnitude 2.0 as on the LASCO C3 images of 16:32UT, Dec 14, 2011). While the peak magnitude is still uncertain, C/2011 W3 could reach the peak brightness at mag -3 or -4 and the comet will probably not survive perihelion. If Comet Lovejoy gets as bright as magnitude -4 or -5, there is a tiny but non-zero chance that it could become visible in the sky next to the sun. But extreme care is needed due to the comet's small solar elongation angle and close proximity to the Sun in the sky.

Below you can see the comet on latest LASCO C3 data available (08:30UT of December 15, 2011). Click on it for a bigger version:

(Credit: SOHO)

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!!

UPDATE - December 15 at 12UT

Thanks to Karl, new STEREO-B, SECCHI fits dated back to December 13, 2011 are available. In spite of the fact that the image scale factor is a little small, it's possible to appreciate the growing of a slight asymmetry of the coma (toward the north-east):

Below an animation of Dec. 11, 12 and 13 stackings (or click here to see it):

Comet Lovejoy looks to be around mag -1 now and only has ~12hrs left. The comet will reach LASCO C2 around 1500 - 1600UT of today. The animation below shows the comet in the SOHO C3 field (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

(Credit: SOHO)

UPDATE - December 15 at 20UT

New STEREO-B, SECCHI fits dated back to December 14, 2011 are available. Below you can see our new image processing on the STEREO/SECCHI HI-1A FITS for Dec 14.5 (click on the image for a bigger version):

In the meantime, new SOHO C3 image dated Dec, 15 at 16:30UT is available (click on the image for a bigger version):

A new narrow tail is visible in these images. This extremely narrow features recalls the Na or Fe tails already featured on a few extremely bright comets close to the Sun, e.g.: http://tinyurl.com/cck9pbn and http://tinyurl.com/ctun5cy

Matthew Knight of the Lowell Observatory and JHU-APL reports on Spaceweather website: "As of 16:30 UT on Dec. 15th, Comet Lovejoy has reached magnitude -3, possibly brighter. It is starting to saturate SOHO images even with narrow filters and shorter than normal exposure times." The comet is now brighter than Jupiter, but not quite as bright as Venus. If these developments continue apace, Comet Lovejoy could become visible to the naked eye in broad daylight before the end of Dec. 15th.

Again: extreme care is needed due to the comet's small solar elongation angle and close proximity to the Sun in the sky. Do not look at or near the sun through unfiltered optics; focused sunlight can seriously damage your eyes.

Comet Lovejoy's perihelion is roughly 5 hours from now, on Dec 16 at 00:30UT. Next SOHO images will be available after 22:20UT.

UPDATE - December 16 at 11UT

Surprisingly as it may seem, comet Lovejoy appears to have survived its close encounter with the sun. Video and images relased by the NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) caught the comet reemerging on the other side of the Sun after its perihelion!!

SDO video showing the comet C/2011 W3 (LOVEJOY) flying towards the Sun:

While in the SDO video below you can see the comet incredibly emerging from perihelion:

Using the images taken from 04:39UT to 10:54UT by the SECCHI outer coronagraph (COR2) on the STEREO Ahead observatory on December 16, we have made this animation clearly showing what is left of the comet nucleus after the close approach with the Sun (at present no one can say how much of the comet's core remains intact). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

Using images taken from SOHO C3 from 15:54 of December 15 to 09:30UT of December 16, we made this animation showing the comet on its course pre and after the perihelion. Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

Note how in the last frames the remnant of the pre-perihelion tail is still visible but completely disconnected from the comet:

(Credit: SOHO)

UPDATE - December 17 at 12UT

The missing SOHO C2 post-perihelion fits are now available. We just made this short animation showing the comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) reemerging behind the solar disk after the perihelion on the first hours of December 16, 2011:

As we saw on the previous update, at first the emerging comet was missing its tail. Now on the latest C3 images, it is evident that tails are forming again (with the inclusion of the very narrow tail we saw just before the perihelion, possibly NA or Fe related) and that the comet is still very bright!!

In fact the comet has been succefully observed visually with a 10x50 binoculars by Alexandre Amorim from Brazil on Dec 17.34. He estimated the comet magnitude at -2.9. Here is its report:

C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy)
2011 Dec 17.34 UT: m1= -2.9*, Dia= <1', DC=9, tail= 0.2 in P.A. 240...10x50B...Alexandre Amorim(Florianopolis,Brazil)[comet alt. 4 deg, sun alt. -0.9 deg]

While below you can see a groud-based image taken at dawn by Jan Ebr with the FRAM remote telescope (0.3-m SCT) located in Argentina, Malargue:

UPDATE - December 19 at 15UT

Below you can see a beautiful image of the tail of comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) taken on December 19, 2011 by FRAM team (Malargue, Argentina) with 200 mm telephoto lens piggybacked on the main telescope, using also a KAF-1603 camera (from FLI). Click on the image for a bigger version:

UPDATE - December 20 at 13UT

Thanks to Jakub Černý we had the chance to works on the FRAM team fits of December 17, 2011. We sorted and stacked the best V-filtered frames, and have done some image processing on it. Basically, it appears that, apart the two "tail branches", we have an asymmetric coma. In some treatement, there is the hint of a "curved jet" or "shell" (or whatever you would call it) in the inner coma, that appears to originate from the central condensation, developing in a "counterclockwise" direction. Obviously this stuff has to be confirmed in further images, to make sure it's not an artefact of my image processing. You can see below the result (click on the image for a bigger version):

On December 17, 2011 the comet has been imaged in daylight also by amateur astronomer Vincent Jacques of Breil-sur-Roya, France. Images and video below taken with an 80mm refractor at 80x + near IR filter and camera DMK21 from 09:00 UT to 13:00 UT.

(Credit: Vincent Jacques)

Australian amateur astronomer Vello Tabur captured a 5-degree-long tail of comet Lovejoy on December 19.7 with a DSLR in the bright twilight.

(Credit: Vello Tabur)

Finally a new image by the FRAM team obtained on December 20, 2011 with a 30-cm Meade SCT F/10 (0.66x) located in Argentina, Malargue.

UPDATE - December 21 at 15UT

The comet has put on a great show for Southern observers. Amateur astronomer Colin Legg has been able to image (with a 5D2 digital camera) the beautiful tail of comet Lovejoy from the Mandurah Estuary on Western Australia around 3:30 WST of December 21, 2011. Below you can see his image and the stunning timelapse of his observing session.

While another observer (Grahame) from Australia took the following image taken on December 21, 2011 at 0400 local time of Perth with canon 7D, 17-85mm lens, ISO 800 F4.5. Click on the image for a bigger version.

UPDATE - December 27 at 14UT

International Space Station Commander Dan Burbank captured spectacular images of Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) as seen from about 386 Km above the Earth’s horizon on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

(Credit : NASA)

Many beautiful images are arriving from observers in the Southern Hemisphere, you can find a very good selection here & here

Comet Lovejoy on 2011 Dec 23.7 UT, Michelago, NSW, Australia

(Credit: Vello Tabur)

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

"Centaur" minor planet 2010 XZ78

2011-12-06T13:07:00.001+01:00

2010 XZ78 is an object found on December 2010 by G96 professional survey and classified as a Centaur. To date, 17 total observations of 2010 XZ78 are present in the MPC database over interval: 2010 11 13.34 – 2011 01 08.25.

Centaurs, defined to have their perihelion outside of Jupiter (5.2 AU) and semimajor axis inside of Neptune (30.0 AU), have unstable orbits and have been extracted from the transneptunian objects (TNOs) population through perturbations by Neptune. So far only a few Centaurs have presented unambiguous evidence of cometary activity (see for example 174P/Echeclus). The first Centaur known to present cometary activity was Chiron.

We performed some follow-up of 2010 XZ78 on 2011 December 06, 2011 to lengthen the observational arc and to search for cometary activity. We found it roughly 2.2 arcminutes west of its nominal position. Stacking of 13 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, Dec. 6.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object has a stellar aspect, with its PSF profile being the same of the nearby field stars of similar brightness (FWHM of 1.2").

Our image of 2010 XZ78:

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes & Ernesto Guido

C/2011 W3 (LOVEJOY) - Kreutz Sungrazing Comet

2011-12-05T13:43:00.001+01:00

Cbet nr.2930, issued on 2011, December 02, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 13) by Terry Lovejoy on three CCD images obtained each on Nov. 27.7 and 29.7 UT with a Celestron 8 0.20-m f/2.1 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector (+ QHY9 camera). The new comet has been designated C/2011 W3 (LOVEJOY).

The comet appears to be a Kreutz sungrazer, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

This is the first ground-Based discovery of a Kreutz Sungrazing Comet since 1970!!

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object remotely from the GRAS Observatory (Australia - MPC Code E03) on 2011, December 04.7 through a 0.10-m f/5 reflector + CCD.

Our image of comet C/2011 W3 (LOVEJOY):

Below you can see an animation showing the fast movement of the comet in the sky. Each frame is a 30-second exposure. Click here or on the thumbnail for a bigger version.

M.P.E.C. 2011-X16 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 W3: T 2011 Dec. 15.99; e= 1.0; Peri. = 57.14; q = 0.005 AU; Incl.= 135.93

The comet is now rapidly brightening but seems intrinsically faint. It may not survive its close perihelion (at 0.0058936AU, which is a little over 1.2 solar radii) passage on December 16th that will bring it within 880,000 km of the center of the Sun (comet C/2011 W3 will pass just 180,000 km from the Sun’s surface).

The following ephemeris (from Cbet 2930) assumes H = 14.0 and 2.5n = 8. Note that the rate of brightness increase is highly uncertain.

Date    TT        R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.    Mag
2011 12 06    15 35.96   -47 53.6    0.708    0.505    29.3   11.4
2011 12 07    15 53.78   -46 18.1    0.716    0.470    26.5   11.2
2011 12 08    16 10.34   -44 31.1    0.727    0.434    23.8   10.9
2011 12 09    16 25.59   -42 34.2    0.742    0.397    21.1   10.6
2011 12 10    16 39.54   -40 28.8    0.759    0.358    18.5   10.3
2011 12 11    16 52.22   -38 15.8    0.780    0.316    15.8   10.0
2011 12 12    17 03.68   -35 55.6    0.804    0.272    13.1   9.5
2011 12 13    17 13.96   -33 27.7    0.833    0.223    10.4   8.9
2011 12 14    17 23.07   -30 48.9    0.869    0.169     7.7   8.0
2011 12 15    17 30.86   -27 50.3    0.914    0.105     4.7   6.5
2011 12 16    17 32.18   -23 05.4    0.989    0.006     0.2 -3.4
2011 12 17    17 16.52   -25 17.7    0.919    0.104     4.9   6.4
2011 12 18    17 10.86   -27 27.6    0.873    0.169     7.8   8.0
2011 12 19    17 06.90   -29 31.8    0.835    0.223    10.5   8.9
2011 12 20    17 03.78   -31 35.1    0.802    0.271    13.0   9.5
2011 12 21    17 01.19   -33 39.8    0.771    0.316    15.4   9.9

Extreme care is needed due to the comet's small solar elongation angle and close proximity to the Sun in the sky.

Congrats to Terry Lovejoy his third comet discovery!! On comets-ml mailing list you can read the full discovery story written by Terry himself.

By Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

Update on 2011 RC17

2011-12-01T17:08:00.001+01:00

M.P.E.C. 2011-W34, issued on 2011 Nov. 22, 02:33 UT, announced the discovery by Leonid Elenin (H15 ISON-NM Observatory, Mayhill) of a new unusual minor planet, with the temporary designation of 2011 RC17. At that time, its preliminary orbital solution provided a comet-like orbit, with a= 6.3 AU, e= 0.53, Incl. = 11.3 deg, and a period of nearly 16 years.

At first we observed this object on 2011 Nov. 22.4, remotely, through the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD. On our stacking it appearance was stellar, however we wanted to secure more images about it, in order to obtain a higher S/N, to make sure about its nature.

Then, on 2011, December 1.4, we were able to obtain another observing session through the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.

Stacking of 16 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, showed that this object had a stellar aspect, with its PSF profile being the same of the nearby field stars of similar brightness (FWHM of 1.4").

Our image of this object (click on it for a bigger version):

by Nick Howes, Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido

New Comet: P/2011 W2 (RINNER)

2011-11-30T12:59:00.001+01:00

Cbet nr.2922, issued on 2011, November 29, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 17.9) by Claudine Rinner on CCD images obtained on November 28, 2011 taken with a 0.5-m f/3 reflector located at the Oukaimeden Observatory near Marrakech, Morocco. The new comet has been designated P/2011 W2 (RINNER).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp. Stacking of 14 unfiltered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) on 2011, November 29.3, through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: diffuse coma nearly 15-arcsec in diameter.

Our confirmation image (click on the image for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-W80 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 W2: T 2011 Oct. 10.62; e= 0.51; Peri. = 210.50; q = 2.32 AU; Incl.= 14.20

Congratulations to Claudine Rinner for this new amateur comet discovery!!

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

COMET P/2010 UH55 (SPACEWATCH)

2011-11-30T09:28:00.001+01:00

Cbet 2923, issued on 2011, November 30, reports that an apparently asteroidal object reported by the Spacewatch survey and designated 2010 UH55 by the Minor Planet Center last year, has been found to show cometary activity. H. Sato (Tokyo, Japan) first reported the appearance of a condensed coma of size 6"-8" on 2010 Nov. 17.4 UT. Sato's report remained unconfirmed until the past month, when he again found the object on 2011 Nov. 3.5 to show a cometary appearance. Other observers have confirmed the cometary nature of this object. The new designation is P/2010 UH55 (SPACEWATCH).

Prompted by an alert note of Dmitry Chestnov, we performed some follow-up about this object. Stacking of 5 R-filtered exposures, 40-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, November 28.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: diffuse coma about 9" in diameter, and a faint, broad tail, nearly 20" long toward west-northwest. Total magnitude m1 R about 18.2

Our confirmation image (click on the image for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-W82 assignes the following orbital elements to comet P/2010 UH55 (SPACEWATCH): T 2011 May 10.36; e= 0.58; Peri. = 221.62; q = 2.77 AU; Incl.= 8.67

Giovanni Sostero, Krzysztof Rochowicz, Ernesto Guido and Nick Howes

2005 YU55 - Close Approach

2011-11-09T13:20:00.001+01:00

On November 08, 2011 at 23:28 Universal Time (UT), the Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 passed within 0.85 lunar distances (or 319,000 km or 0.00217 AU) from Earth's surface.

Asteroid 2005 YU55 was discovered by Robert McMillan during the Spacewatch survey on December 28, 2005. The 2011 approach is the closest that we know about in advance by an asteroid with an absolute magnitude this bright since 2010 XC15 (H = 21.4) approached within 0.5 lunar distances in 1976 (although astronomers did not know about this flyby at the time), and until 2028, when 2001 WN5 (H = 18.2) will approach within 0.65 lunar distances.

The object has been previously observed on April 2010 by Mike Nolan, Ellen Howell and colleagues with the Arecibo radar on April 19-21, 2010 and shown to be a very dark, nearly spherical object 400 meters in diameter with a relatively long rotation period, 18 to 20 hours.

Trajectory of Asteroid 2005 YU55 - November 8-9, 2011. Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

(Credit: NASA-JPL)

We have been able to follow-up this object on November 09.25 remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. At the moment of our observing session the asteroid was moving at about 260.07 "/min and it was of magnitude ~11. The image below is a single 60-second exposure (click on it for a bigger version).

While this is an animation showing the object movement in the sky. Each image was a 2-second exposure. Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

Scientists working with the 70-meter Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California, have generated a short movie clip of asteroid 2005 YU55 from data collected on November 07, 2011. These are the highest-resolution radar images ever obtained for a near-Earth object:

Due to its size and proximity to Earth, the Minor Planet Center has designated 2005 YU55 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid". Although classified as a potentially hazardous object, 2005 YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over at least the next 100 years, the entire interval over which its motion can be computed reliably.

For more info about this close approach:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/133013563.html

http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/2005YU55/2005YU55_planning.html

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news171.html

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes

Recovery of comet 171P/Spahr

2011-10-28T11:48:00.002+02:00

On October 19.5, 2011 we started an observing session to recover the periodic comet 171P/Spahr. T. B. Spahr (then at University of Arizona, Arizona, USA - now Director, Minor Planet Center) discovered this comet with the 0.41-m f/3 Schmidt telescope in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey on 1998 November 16.39.

We found an object of magnitude ~20.6 with the following offset from the nominal position of comet 171P (RA 2.5'W DEC 0.6'S). We found again the same object on October 20.5 & October 24.5. A faint possible tail, about 20-arcsec long toward North-East is visible. We imaged it remotely with the 2.0-m f/10 from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South.

Below you can find our recovery image of October 24, 2011:

While below you can see an animation showing the movement of the comet (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

Before our recovery, comet 171P/Spahr was last observed on February 06, 2006.

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes & Antoni Kasprzyk

New Comet: C/2011 U2 (BRESSI)

2011-10-27T11:38:00.004+02:00

Cbet nr.2875, issued on 2011, October 26, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.4) by Terry H. Bressi on CCD images obtained on September 24, 2011 with the Spacewatch 0.9-m f/3 reflector at Kitt Peak. The new comet has been designated C/2011 U2 (BRESSI).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp. Three stacked 60-s R-band exposures taken remotely on Oct. 25.5 with the 2.0-m f/10 "Faulkes Telescope North" at Haleakala show that this object is a comet with a compact coma about 4" x 3" in size, elongated toward p.a. 250 deg, with a sharp central condensation and a tail about 20" long in p.a. 250 deg.

Our confirmation image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-U85 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 U2: T 2012 Oct. 9.20; e= 1.0; Peri. = 222.89; q = 2.49 AU; Incl.= 9.81

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes & Daniel Cirelli

"Debris cloud" of comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin)

2011-10-24T20:04:00.002+02:00

The *big* problem imaging the "debris" of C/2010 X1 (Elenin), is the low S/N of the little cloud it left away. If you want to integrate enough, in order to increase the S/N of yours images, then you face the problem of the trailed stars that are crossing the field, producing an annoying interference with the faint cometary cloud.

A professional astronomer (CARA's collaborator Gian Paolo Tozzi, Arcetri Observatory, Italy), suggested to shoot again the field of the comet with the same instrumentation when the comet moved away, and then to subtract the field stars from the cometary original images you want to enhance. In principle, this would help to eliminate at least some part of the disturbing effect produced by the trailed stars.

We tried this interesting technique on the images we obtained on 2011 Oct. 23.37 (see our previous post), and we obtained the following result (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

We have still to improve this method (we found some issues matching the size of the field stars, due to the different seeing conditions and/or focus on two consecutive nights), anyway the results looks pretty promising. The image treated in this way, is significantly cleaner, and some features of C/2010 X1 (Elenin) are easier to be seen. In particular, the sunward part of the "cometary cloud" appears much sharper compared to the antisolar direction. The diffuse shape of the comet appears to be somehow "conical", about 1.5 deg long overall, with a maximum thickness of about 10-arcmin in the solar direction: the ovate shape of the "cometary cloud" than thinners tailward. We failed to find any convincing condensation within it, provided that the few "knots" visible on our image, are probably due to some noise left by the star profile removal process.

Talking about morphology, it's interesting to notice some similarities of what we found in our image, with this archive image of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, seen after its break-up (Lowell Observatory 1.1m Hall telescope of 23 June 1993):

UPDATE OCTOBER 25, 2011

Below you can see a new elaboration of the previous image (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido and Nick Howes

Another recovery attempt on C/2010 X1 (Elenin)

2011-10-21T19:06:00.000+02:00

Today, we imaged again the field of C/2010 X1 (Elenin) remotely, from the GRAS network (Mayhill station, NM). We used two scopes, nearly simultaneously: the 254mm, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, and the 0.1m, f/5 APO refractor + CCD.

The first observing session, on 2011 Oct. 21.3861 UT, through the 10" reflector (15x20sec, unfiltered exposures, scale 1.6"/px, field of view 59'x40'), provided no obvious moving objects in the field of view.

The second observing session with the APO refractor, was scheduled on two separate slots, spaced by about 2h, on 2011 Oct. 21.38392 and Oct. 21.47579. The first sequence was a stacking of 9x30sec, the second was 11x30 sec (unfiltered exposures, scale 3.5"/px, field of view 3.9 degx2.6 deg). Blinking the two fields, we found something moving on the sky background (moonlight interference).

After some image processing, to clean a bit the image, we get this result (click on the thumbnail below to see the animation):

50% crop of the original image

You can download the animation here:

http://tinyurl.com/652otdx

If this *extremely* faint and diffuse blob of light is not an artefact (stray light reflection, ghost image, etc.), it is very close to C/2010 X1 ephemerids position, and it seems to moves with the appropriate proper motion.

Tentatively we measured a 14'x8' (kind of) extremely faint cloud, elongated toward PA 300.

The provisional astrometry we obtained from these two set of data is listed below (very difficult measurement, since there isn't any obvious condensation):

COD H06
OBS E. Guido, G. Sostero, N. Howes
MEA E. Guido, G. Sostero. N. Howes
TEL 0.10-m f/5 reflector + CCD
ACK MPCReport file updated 2011.10.21 16.54.10
NET UCAC-2
CK10X010 KC2011 10 21.38392 07 55 08.81 +28 41 56.3 x.xx N H06
CK10X010 KC2011 10 21.47579 07 53 48.16 +28 45 45.0 x.xx N H06

We encourage other observers to confirm or refute this possible find we made, with their own observations/images. We suggest the use of wide-field, fast focal ratio scopes, possibly under very good sky conditions.

UPDATE October 23, 2011

Following our yesterday's report of the recovery of the remains of comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin), we confirm the detection of the "cloud" on today observations too.

Here is again the "cloud" imaged by our team few hours ago on October 23.4, 2011 remotely from the GRAS network (Mayhill station, NM) by 0.1m, f/5 APO refractor + CCD (12x300-seconds exposures). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

The "cloud" is roughly 40' long with an extension of 6' near the expected position of the comet.

Here you can see an image where the X marked the ephemeris position for comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

And this is an animation showing the movement of the "cloud" along with to the movement of the expected comet's position (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

The fast streak moving on the right side of the animation is the PHA asteroid (138524) 2000 OJ8 (magnitude 14.5).

After our request to other observers to try to confirm our find, we have received the following images and animation by fellow observers that seems to confirm the presence of this faint and diffuse "cloud" moving at the same speed and PA of the comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) very close to C/2010 X1 ephemerids position.

The image by Rolando Ligustri obtained remotely from New Mexico on October 22, 2011 (the image processing was particularly forced to highlight the faint nebulosity):

The animation by Leonid Elenin on October 22, 2011 (click for a bigger version)

The animation by Juanjo González Díaz on the evening of October 21, 2011 (click for a bigger version)

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes

New Comet: P/2010 TO20 (LINEAR-GRAUER)

2011-10-21T17:17:00.002+02:00

Cbet nr.2867, issued on 2011, October 21, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.1) by A. D. Grauer on CCD images obtained on September 19, 2011 with the Mount Lemmon 1.5-m reflector.

According to the CBET: "After two nights of observations of Grauer's comet had been received at the Minor Planet Center, T. Spahr realized that this object was identical with an object discovered a year ago by the LINEAR project (discovery observation tabulated below; cf. MPS 351583) that appeared to be a Jupiter Trojan minor planet."

The new comet has been designated P/2010 TO20 (LINEAR-GRAUER).

We performed follow-up measurements of this object on 2 different nights, while it was still on the neocp.

Stacking of 6 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South by G. Sostero, I. Melville, A. Kasprzyk, N. Howes, E. Guido on 2011, Oct. 19.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD under good seeing conditions, shows that this object is a comet: sharp central condensation, compact coma about 5" in diameter, and a wide, fan-shaped tail, at least 45" long toward PA 250

Stacking of 5 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North by G. Sostero, N. Howes, E. Guido on 2011, Oct. 20.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, confirms that this object is a comet: we found again a sharp central condensation, a compact coma about 6" in diameter, and a tail, at least 30" long, toward PA 247.

Our confirmation image:

M.P.E.C. 2011-U41 assignes the following very preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2010 TO20: T 2008 Aug. 27.9; e= 0.09; Peri. = 250.17; q = 5.06 AU; Incl.= 2.65

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido and Nick Howes

Observations of astronomy satellite Spektr R

2011-10-17T12:21:00.001+02:00

On Saturday October 15, 2011 a bright (magnitude 13.5) and fast object (observed by 703 Catalina Sky Survey) was published on the Neocp list with the designation ST37690.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still on the neocp on October 15.5 remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. Soon after ST37690 object was removed from Neocp list because it was not a minor planet.

As it turned out, ST37690 was actually the artificial satellite SPEKTR-R (official designation 2011-037A). Spektr R is a Russian orbital radio telescope, and currently the largest space telescope in orbit.

According to Nasa website:

"Spektr R, a Russian radio astronomy satellite, was launched from Baikonur on 18 July 2011 at 02:31 UT by a Zenit 3F rocket. Spektr R is one element of an international network of observatories in a project called RadioAstron. Funded by the Russian Astro Space Center, Spektr R features a 10-m diameter antenna reflector designed to help astronomers see deeper into supermassive black holes, obtain views of collapsed stars, and better measure the influence of dark energy on the cosmos. When linked together, RadioAstron's telescopes have a resolution of 7 microarcseconds"

More info about it on "Sky & Telescope" website.

Below you can see the animation showing the fast movement of Spektr R in the sky (10 frames of 20-seconds exposure each):

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

C/2010 X1 (Elenin) post solar conjunction recovery attempt

2011-10-11T11:42:00.002+02:00

Recently we tried to image C/2010 X1 (Elenin) after its solar conjunction. The observing conditions for this comet are currently quite difficult: very low in the morning sky at twilight, within the zodiacal "light pollution".

Anyway we decided to go with several robotic scopes, operating under excellent sky conditions (New Mexico and Mauna Kea). At first we aimed at the expected comet's position (MPC ephemerids) on 2011, Oct 09.5, through a 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector + CCD and, nearly simultaneously, through a 0.10-m f/5 APO refractor + CCD, from the Global Rent a Scope facility (near Mayhill, NM).

Stacking of a number of images, we observed no distinct evidence of the comet within about 30 arcmin of the expected position, with a limiting magnitude around 17, and to limiting magnitude about 15, within about 2 deg from the expected position. Below you can see the crop of the 0.25-m reflector stacked image set (click on the image for a bigger version):

On 2011, Oct. 10.6, we imaged the area where comet Elenin was supposed to be, through the 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD of Faulkes Telescope North (Mauna Kea, Hawaii). Stacking several exposures, with limiting magnitude at around 20.5, doesn't show any trace of the comet within the 10'x10' field of view centered on the comet's ephemerids (while stacking these images along the proper motion of the field minor planets, we can easily distinguish the asteroid (43629), with its magnitude at 20.3 (click on the image for a bigger version):

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes

New Comet: C/2011 S2

2011-10-03T00:51:00.000+02:00

Cbet nr.2852, issued on 2011, October 02, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 15.7) by R. A. Kowalski on CCD images obtained on September 30, 2011 with the Catalina Sky Survey's 0.68-m Schmidt reflector. The new comet has been designated C/2011 S2.

As noted on both the discovery Cbet & Mpec:

"The orbit of this object is essentially indeterminate at the present time. It is possible that this is a short-period comet. Among the wide range of possible short-period orbits are orbits that appear similar to P/2006 T1 (Levy). Initial attempts to link the two apparitions have not been successful. Further observations are encouraged."

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp. Stacking of 30 unfiltered exposures, 30-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, October 01.4 from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet with a condensed coma about 10-arcsec in diameter, elongated, toward PA 295.

Our confirmation image:

Animation showing the movement of the comet:

M.P.E.C. 2011-T12 assignes the following very preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 S2: T 2011 Oct. 23.52; e= 1.0; Peri. =188.83; q = 1.13 AU; Incl.= 17.32

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

Bright Sungrazing Comet on October 01, 2011

2011-10-02T01:32:00.000+02:00

A new bright comet diving into the Sun is visible right now (October 01, 2011) in C3 and C2 images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach. The comet (designated SOHO-2143) was discovered on Sept. 29th by a group of four independent SOHO comet hunters (M. Kusiak, S. Liwo, B. Zhou and Z. Xu), who reported it within 9-secs of each other!

According to Karl Battams: "It's *very* rare for a comet to enter the fov as bright as this one. I think this is the brightest SOHO Kreutz we've ever seen!"

SOHO-2143 is strongly saturating C3 Images - (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

C2 Image - October 01, 2011 (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

C3 & C2 Movies - (click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version)

You can read more details about latest bright SOHO comets here:

by Ernesto Guido

Comet images + Amor Type asteroid

2011-09-29T15:19:00.000+02:00

Below you can find a selection of some of the comets and asteroids we imaged in the month of September 2011 using the Faulkes (F65 & E10 MPC codes), New Mexico (H06 & H10 codes) and Malina River Observatory, Italy (B90 code) telescopes.

Comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková (September 29, 2011)

Comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková (September 24, 2011)

Comet 78P/Gehrels (September 07, 2011)

Comet C/2009 Y1 (Catalina) - September 07, 2011

Comet P/2011 N1 (ASH) - September 07, 2011

AMOR Type Asteroid 2011 SQ32

By Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

Further fragmentation events in 213P/Van Ness

2011-09-22T12:06:00.000+02:00

Stacking of 9 R-filtered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, September 20.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that fragment b of comet 213P is still visible, albeit very faint and diffuse (m2 about 21.5, coma diameter about 5-arcsec). Fragment b was located about 5.7 arcmin in PA 240 respect the main nuclear condensation of 213P/Van Ness.

During the same observing session, we noticed also the presence of a new fragment, not visible on our past images obtained with the same set-up (the last of which dates back 2011, Sep. 2.5): this additional fragment (that we called below "part-y") appears slightly brighter and compact than 0213Pb itself (m1 about 21.0, coma diameter about 4-arcsec elongated toward the southwest). "part-y" was located about 4.5 arcmin in PA 239 respect the main nuclear condensations of 213P/Van Ness.

Our image of Sept. 20.6 about these fragments is available here:

Click on the thumbnail below to see a short animation showing the fragment's motion:

We obtained additional follow-up through the same instrumentation on 2011, Sep. 21.6, confirming the existence of both fragments b and "part-y". Further inspection of our images, exclude the presence of other fragments brighter than magnitude R about 22, up to 12-arcmin tailward of 213P.

UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Stacking of 11 R-filtered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, September 23.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that fragment b of comet 213P/Van Ness is now extremely weak and diffused (uncondensed coma about 7-arcsec in diameter) that hampers any astrometric measurement about it (however this might be a temporary disappearance, as sometimes happens with these small cometary fragments in rapid evolution).

On today's images we found again the fragment we reported first on 2011, Sep. 20.58846 (at that time we called it "part-y").

Click on the thumbnail below to see a short animation showing the fragment's motion:

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido & Nick Howes

New Comet: C/2011 S1 (GIBBS)

2011-09-21T21:47:00.000+02:00

Cbet nr.2822, issued on 2011, September 21, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 21.2) by A. R. Gibbs on CCD images obtained on September 18, 2011 by Gibbs and S. F. Tornero with the Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m reflector. The new comet has been designated C/2011 S1 (GIBBS).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp, with "Faulkes-Telescope South" on September 21, 2011.

Stacking of 3 R-filtered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, September 21.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: diffuse coma nearly 6-arcsec in diameter.

Our confirmation image (click on it for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-S28 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 S1 (GIBBS): T 2013 Jan. 16.54; e= 1.0; Peri. =174.65; q = 4.99 AU; Incl.= 2.23

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes and Ernesto Guido

New Comet: P/2011 R3 (NOVICHONOK-GERKE)

2011-09-09T16:32:00.000+02:00

Cbet nr.2812, issued on 2011, September 09, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 18.9) by Artyom Novichonok on six images taken by Vladimir V. Gerke (Moscow) during Sept. 7.02-7.05 UT using a 0.4-m "Jigit" telescope at the TAU station of the Ka-Dar Observatory (located near Nizhniy Arkhyz, Russia). The new comet has been designated P/2011 R3 (NOVICHONOK-GERKE).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp, with "Faulkes-Telescope North" on September 08, 2011.

Stacking of 6 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, September 8.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: sharp central condensation, coma nearly 4-arcsec in diameter elongated toward southwest, broad tail at least 7-arcsec long toward PA 252.

Our confirmation image (click on it for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-R34 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 R3: T 2011 Aug. 23.36; e= 0.26; Peri. =189.68; q = 3.56 AU; Incl.= 18.04

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes and Ernesto Guido

NOVA SCORPII 2011 No. 2

2011-09-07T14:56:00.000+02:00

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page about a possible transient in Sco (TOCP Designation: PNV J16364300-4132460) and AAVSO Special Notice #251, we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through the 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD of "Faulkes Telescope South" (MPC Code - E10).

The two independent discoverers of this nova are: John Seach (Australia) and Yuji Nakamura (Japan).

On our images taken on September 07.50, 2011 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with filtered R-Bessel CCD magnitude 9.1 (USNO-B1.0 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 16 36 44.29, Decl.= -41 32 37.7

(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1.0 catalogue reference stars).

According to VIZIER there is a 15.08 R1 magnitude star at 0.060 arcseconds from the transient position (USNO-B1.0 0484-0459316).

Our BRV image (click on it for a bigger version):

Below you can see an animation showing a comparison between our confirmation image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1997). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

A. Arai, T. Kajikawa, C. Naka, Kyoto Sangyo University, reports on Cbet 2813 that they performed low-resolution optical spectroscopic observations (R about 580) of this object on Sept. 7.42 UT using the Araki telescope at Koyama Astronomical Observatory. The spectrum exhibits broad Balmer emissions and Fe II multiplet emissions on a highly reddened continuum light. The H-alpha emission line shows an asymmetric profile with FWZI about 6000 km/s. These features suggest that the object is an "Fe II"-type classical nova, highly reddened by the interstellar medium.

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: P/2011 R2 (PANSTARRS)

2011-09-07T09:09:00.001+02:00

Cbet nr.2811, issued on 2011, September 07, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 18.7) by Larry Denneau and Richard Wainscoat on two i-band Pan-STARRS images taken with the 1.8-m "Pan-STARRS 1" telescope at Haleakala on September 4.5, 2011. The new comet has been designated P/2011 R2 (PANSTARRS).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object with a "GRAS Telescope" and the "Faulkes-Telescope South" on September 06, 2011.

Stacking of 14 unfiltered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, September 9.3 from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: condensed coma about 8-arcsec in diameter, elongated, toward PA 250.

Stacking of 4 R-filtered exposures, 30-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, September 6.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: well condensed coma nearly 5-arcsec in diameter, and a broad tailabout 8-arcsec long in PA 251.

Our confirmation images (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-R24 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 R2: T 2011 Nov. 19.50; e= 0.40; Peri. =230.12; q = 2.02 AU; Incl.= 4.77

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido and Nick Howes

Update about 213P-B fragment

2011-09-02T17:00:00.001+02:00

MPECs 2011-P25, 2011-P37 and CBET 2798 detailed the discovery and follow-up about a secondary nuclear condensation (component B) of comet 213P/VAN NESS. Recently we performed some additional follow-up on it, in order to check its evolution.

Stacking of eight exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, Aug. 25.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD + Bessel-R filter under good seeing conditions, shows that fragment "b" of comet 213P/Van Ness is still present, however now it is very weak (R magnitude about 21) and diffused (coma diameter about 4-arcsec); this hampers any accurate astrometric measurement.

Astrometry:
0213P      b KC2011 08 25.50468 23 07 14.86 +04 07 51.8          21.1 R      F65
0213P      b KC2011 08 25.50797 23 07 14.68 +04 07 51.8          21.2 R      F65
0213P      b KC2011 08 25.51061 23 07 14.56 +04 07 52.2          21.4 R      F65

You can see the image below (click on it for a bigger version)

Stacking of six exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely with the same instrumentation on 2011, Sep. 2.5, confirms the previous observations, and indicates another decline in its brightness and degree of condensation. The coma has been measured to be nearly 5-arcsec in diameter.

Astrometry:
0213Pb        C2011 09 02.50427 23 00 49.98 +04 24 17.8          21.3 N      F65
0213Pb        C2011 09 02.50625 23 00 49.91 +04 24 18.1          21.5 N      F65
0213Pb        C2011 09 02.50826 23 00 49.85 +04 24 19.0          21.3 N      F65

You can see the image below (click on it for a bigger version)

Click on the thumbnail below to see a short animation showing the fragment motion:

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes and Ernesto Guido

NOVA IN LUPUS

2011-08-13T15:17:00.006+02:00

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page and on VSNET-Alert 13560 about a possible Nova in Lup we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through the 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD of Faulkes Telescope South (MPC Code - E10).

On our images taken on August 13.5, 2011 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with filtered R-Bessel CCD magnitude 8.4 (USNO-B1.0 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 14 54 23.09, Decl.= -55 05 11.2

(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1.0 catalogue reference stars).

Our BRV image of Nova Lup (click on it for a bigger version):

Below you can see an animation showing a comparison between our image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1999). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

Astronomers at Stony Brook University report on The Astronomer's Telegram 3536 that a spectrum of the possible Nova Lup has been obtained on 2011 Aug 9 at 00h19mUT. This was obtained with the SMARTS 1.5m RC spectrograph at Cerro Tololo and confirms that the eruptive object in Lupus is an Fe II nova near maximum. The spectrum (3700-5400A at 4.1 A resolution) shows the Balmer lines of hydrogen (H-beta through H-10), and Fe II multiplet 42, in emission with P Cygni absorption components at a velocity of about -1000 km/s. The equivalent width of H-beta is about -130 A.

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero

Update about 213P/Van Ness fragmentation

2011-08-11T12:23:00.003+02:00

On August 9, 2011 we have obtained follow-up images of comet 213P/Van Ness + fragment.

For more information about this event see our previous post:
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/08/fragmentation-event-in-213pvan-ness.html

Stacking of ten exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, Aug. 9.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD + Bessel-R filter, under good seeing conditions, shows some evolution of the fragment "b" of comet 213P.

The brightness of its central condensations appears to be dropped by about half a magnitude, compared to our previous observing session on 2011, Aug. 5.6. The central condensation itself appears now elongated, extending nearly 3" in PA 235. The tail of this fragment has been measured to be nearly 16" in PA 233.

Our image (click for a bigger version):

by N. Howes, H. Blyth, G. Sostero, E. Guido

Update on comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd)

2011-08-09T17:12:00.015+02:00

BBC Television in collaboration with Faulkes Telescope and LCOGT today imaged C/2009 P1. The images have been taken with the 2.0 meters "Faulkes Telescope North" by D. Ó Briain, BBC Television presenter. The BBC were allocated time on FT North (F65) as part of a new Citizen Science project.

We accessed with permission the resultant FITS data and our team processed the V channed with a few algorithms (the R and B fits have the comet a little trailed, so they were not usable for this purpose). We have detected hints of a plume-like feature exiting from the central condensation. This might be related with the sublimation processes within the inner coma/nucleus of the comet (asymmetric gaseous emissions toward the Sun + line of sight effect). It's an effect frequently seen in active comets near enough to be resolved.

Click on the image for a bigger version (details are in the caption)

Click here to see another image taken by Faulkes North on July 29, 2011:

For more information see also our post dated August 2009, with our confirmation image of this object:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-comet-c2009-p1-garradd.html

by N. Howes, H. Blyth, G. Sostero and E. Guido

New Comet: P/2011 P1 (MCNAUGHT)

2011-08-08T13:57:00.005+02:00

Cbet nr.2779, issued on 2011, August 05, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 18.5) by R. H. McNaught on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on August 1.7, 2011. The new comet has been designated P/2011 P1 (McNAUGHT).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object with the "Faulkes-Telescope North" on August 05, 2011

Stacking of 12 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala on 2011, August 05.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD under good seiing conditions, shows that this object is very diffuse and elongated toward the northeast/southwest direction (possible anti-tail?). Moreover it is present an apparent tail toward the north-west.

Our image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-P19 assignes the following very preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 P1: T 2009 Mar. 24.83; e= 0.31; Peri. =228.84; q = 2.35 AU; Incl.= 5.43

According to COCD webpage this is the 80th comet for the Siding Spring Survey and the 64th for McNaught.

by H. Blyth, E. Guido, N. Howes and G. Sostero

Fragmentation event in 213P/Van Ness

2011-08-05T19:11:00.003+02:00

Today, during our observing session with Faulkes Telescope North we observed a fragmentation event in comet 213P/Van Ness.

Stacking of five exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, Aug. 5.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD + Bessel-R filter, under good seeing conditions, shows the presence of a secondary fragment embedded in the tail of comet 213P/Van Ness. This object, we named "parte-b", was placed about 5.3 arcmin in PA 239, with respect to the central condensation of the comet. It shows a tiny coma nearly 5-arcsec in diameter, with a tail of at least 22-arcsec in PA 235. Its m1 is R about 20, while its central condensation has R about 21.

A confirmatory observing session with the same set-up, has been obtained on 2011, Aug. 5.6: stacking of six exposures, 120-sec each shows again the fragment in the expected position, moving with the same proper motion of the comet.

Below you can see our total stacked image of comet 213P/Van Ness and its fragment (click on the image for a bigger version):

Comet 213P shows also an obvious anti-tail, or dust-trail, at least 6-arcmin long in PA 58. Below our rendition of this feature, obtained during the same observing session (click on the image for a bigger version):

by G. Sostero, H. Blyth, N. Howes and E. Guido

Comet images from FT + new minor planets

2011-08-04T20:14:00.015+02:00

Thanks to a new "Faulkes Telescope" Project allowing amateur astronomers and schoolchildren to team up to follow-up small bodies of the Solar System, recently we have been able to image many comets and neos. Below you can see a selection of our targets.

All the images have been taken with the 2.0 meters "Faulkes Telescope North" & "Faulkes Telescope South". Click on the images for a bigger version (details are in the caption of each photo)

Comet 2P/Encke - July 05, 2011

Comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) - July 29, 2011

Comet 9P/Tempel - July 22, 2011

Comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková - July 27, 2011

Comet C/2009 F4 (McNaught) - July 21, 2011

During our follow-up of known comets and Neo-cp objects, we have found many new main-belt minor planets (at least 15 in the past few weeks). Thanks to the help from schools involved with the Faulkes educational program, we have been able to improve the observing arc and orbital data for these new objects and as a bonus we have received the discovery asterisk from the Minor Planet Centre for many of them.

Below you can see an animation showing the motion of 4 of the new objects we found during our survey (click here or on the thumbnail for a bigger version):

While in the field below imaged by teacher Boaz and his students during their 2P/Encke campaign, we found 3 uncatalogued new minor planets that we submitted to the MPC (the faintest was magnitude 21).

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: P/2011 NO1

2011-07-19T10:04:00.004+02:00

Cbet nr.2768, issued on 2011, July 19, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.5) by L. Elenin and I. Molotov on four 240-s unfiltered CCD exposures taken remotely with a 0.45-m f/2.8 astrograph at the ISON-NM observatory near Mayhill, NM, USA, on July 7.3 UT. Elenin and Molotov reported the new object with "slight apparent cometary appearance". The new comet has been designated P/2011 NO1.

Stacking of 13 R-filtered exposures, 20-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring on 2011, July 12.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD under good seiing conditions, shows that this object has a slight cometary activity: small coma about 2" in diameter, elongated toward the southwest with a narrow tail 3" long toward PA 250.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-O10 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 NO1: T 2011 Jan. 22.01; e= 0.78; Peri. =264.06; q = 1.24 AU; Incl.= 15.03

This object was announced by T. Spahr as a minor planet on MPEC 2011-O09 while a CBET was being prepared to announce it as a comet, and he assigned the designation 2011 NO1 to it.

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 N2 (McNAUGHT)

2011-07-08T16:25:00.006+02:00

IAUC nr.9220, issued on 2011, July 07, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 17.9) by R. H. McNaught with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, on images obtained on 2011, July 04.46. McNaught reported "the object shows a 10" circular coma with moderate condensation". The new comet has been designated C/2011 N2 (McNAUGHT).

This object was found to show cometary appearance by our team after initial posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object with the Faulkes-Telescope South while it was still listed in the NEOCP.

"Faulkes Telescope Project" recently introduced a new "Exciting Targets" section in its educational program. Thanks to this project, the schools participating in the Faulkes project can contribute real science using their observing time to image interesting objects on behalf of the astronomers.

We are grateful to the "Ryton Comprehensive School" for taking up our request to image this object, allowing us to use their images along with our own to reveal the cometary nature of this body.

Analysis of Bessel-R filtered exposures, 20-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, July 5.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is comet: diffuse coma at least 5" in diameter, possibly elongated along a north-south direction.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-N31 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 N2: T 2011 Oct. 9.79; e= 1.0; Peri. =353.29; q = 2.69 AU; Incl.=34.89

C/2011 N2 is the 63th comet discovery for R. H. McNaught!!

by G. Sostero, N. Howes, E. Guido & Ryton Comprehensive School

New Comet: P/2011 N1

2011-07-08T16:20:00.005+02:00

IAUC nr.9219, issued on 2011, July 07, announces that an apparently asteroidal object (discovery magnitude 19.9) reported by Ignacio de la Cueva, Ibiza, Spain (from exposures taken by J. L. Ortiz, P. Santos-Sanz, N. Morales, and himself with a 0.40-m f/3.7 reflector at San Pedro de Atacama, Chile) was found to show cometary appearance after initial posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage. The new comet has been designated P/2011 N1

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP. Stacking of 20 R-filtered exposures, 30-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, July 7.7, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: elliptical coma measuring about 7" x 4", elongated toward west, with a sharp central condensation. Tail nearly 10" long toward PA 270

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-N29 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 N1: T 2012 May 30.02; e= 0.54; Peri. =330.23; q = 2.87 AU; Incl.=35.69

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes and Ernesto Guido

Bright Sungrazing Comet on July 05, 2011

2011-07-05T22:57:00.019+02:00

A new bright comet diving into the Sun is visible right now (July 05, 21UT) in C3 and C2 images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

C2 Image - July 05, 2011 (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

C3 & C2 Movies - (click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

For the first time ever, SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) captured a 20-minute movie of the comet streaking directly in front of the sun. It's not immediately obvious, but if you watch the movie closely, you'll see a line of light appear in the right and move across to the left.

Below you can see the incredible movie captured by SDO's AIA instrument (click here or here or on the thumbnail to see the video).

(Credit: NASA SDO)

While by clicking here you can see a beautiful LASCO/SOHO view of this Kreutz comet!!

by Ernesto Guido

Unusual asteroid 2011 MM4

2011-07-01T17:53:00.007+02:00

M.P.E.C. 2011-N02, issued on 2011, July 01, announces the discovery of a intriguing new object (discovery magnitude 21.1) by the Pan-STARRS survey with their PS1 1.8-m Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, June 24.4. This new object has been designated 2011 MM4.

We performed some follow-up measurements of 2011 MM4 while it was still listed in the NEOCP with the 2.0-m Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on June 30.4 and July 01.4, 2011.

Stacking of twenty-one R-filtered exposures, plus seven V-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, July 1.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD under good seeing conditions, shows that this object has the same FWHM (1.3 arcsec) of the nearby field stars having similar brightness.

Even if this object has no signs of any obvious coma in our images, it is very interesting due to his peculiar comet-like retrograde orbit. According to the very preliminar orbit published on discovery MPEC, 2011 MM4 is actually ~13.5 AU (with aphelion around 25 AU) from the sun, eccentricity =0.43, P=64.3 years, H=9.4 and it has an inclination of 99 degree.

Our confirmation image (click on the image to see a bigger version)

by Nick Howes, Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido

2011 MD - Close Approach

2011-06-27T13:34:00.011+02:00

Today, Monday June 27 at about 17:00 UT, the asteroid designated 2011 MD will pass only 12,300 kilometers (7,600 miles) above the Earth's surface. The asteroid was discovered by Linear survey with a 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD on June 22, 2011 at magnitude 18.9.

This object is only 5-20 meters in diameter and it is in a very Earth-like orbit around the Sun. Additional observations have made it possible to exclude that this object is a piece of space junk, as was suggested early on. Calculation by Bill Gray, a well-known expert on orbital dynamics, shows that this asteroid could not have been close enough to Earth any time during the space age to have started off as a rocket booster.

Trajectory of 2011 MD from the general direction of the Sun

(credit: Nasa)

We have been able to follow-up this object few hours ago remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD and from the Faulkes Telescope South through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.

At the moment of our images from New Mexico on June 27, 06:50UT, "2011 MD" was moving at about 132"/min and its magnitude was ~15. While the images from FTS were obtained on June 27, 09:30UT when the asteroid was moving at about 176"/min and its magnitude was ~14.5.

At the moment of its close approach later today, 2011 MD will be bright as magnitude ~11.8

Below you can see our image taken with the 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD in New Mexico, while 2011 MD was passing nearby a bright star (click on the image for a bigger version):

Here you can see a single 20-second exposure + RGB filter image taken by 2 meters telescope at Faulkes Telescope South (click on the image for a bigger version):

While this is an animation showing the object movement in the sky. Each image was 20-second exposure with Faulkes Telescope South 2 meters telescope. Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version:

2011 MD's Earth flyby will be a close shave, but not a record for nearby passing asteroids. The record is currently held by the asteroid 2011 CQ1, which came within 5,480 kilometers of Earth on Feb. 4 of this year. See our previous post on this object:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/02/2011-cq1-very-close-approach.html

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: C/2011 M1 (LINEAR)

2011-06-25T21:49:00.003+02:00

IAUC nr.9218, issued on 2011, June 25, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 18.6) by the LINEAR survey with a 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, June 22.4. The new comet has been designated C/2011 M1 (LINEAR)

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP. Stacking of 15 unfiltered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, June 23.4 from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.35-m f/3.8 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: coma nearly 30" in diameter, with a weak central condensation. Total magnitude (unfiltered CCD) m1= 16.5 We suspect the presence of an extension, or a faint tail, nearly 40" long in PA 240, however the visibility of this detail is hampered by the moonlight.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-M37 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 M1: T 2011 Sept. 7.59; e= 1.0; Peri. = 119.04; q = 0.90 AU; Incl. = 69.97

This is the 204th comet discovery for LINEAR survey!

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

Further follow-up of 174P/Echeclus

2011-06-24T17:13:00.006+02:00

Today we have been able to image again comet 174P/Echeclus with the 2-m Faulkes Telescope South to follow the recent bright phase of this interesting centaur.

Stacking of eight R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Faulkes Telescope South on 2011, June 24.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows some evolution in the morphology of this comet: the parabolic coma previously reported, albeit present, is now much fainter, and shows its ADU counts very close to the sky background limit. No other details, except a nuclear condensation having an m2 close t R about 18.9, are currently visible in our images.

Click on the image for a bigger version

For more info about this object please see our previous posts:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/06/outburst-of-174pecheclus.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/06/follow-up-of-174pecheclus-bright-phase.html

by Nick Howes, Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido

Follow-up of 174P/Echeclus bright phase

2011-06-09T18:11:00.008+02:00

Following the recent outburst of centaur 174P/Echeclus, we performed some follow-up of this intriguing object. Stacking of 8 unfiltered exposures 300 sec each, obtained remotely, from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia) on 2011, June 8.6, through a 0.15-m, f/7.3 refractor + CCD, shows some evolution within the coma of this object: we detected the development of a (possible) faint parabolic envelope about 45-arcsec in diameter, with the central condensation having an offset of nearly 13-arcsec to the west-southwest.

Our image (click on the image for a bigger version):

Unfortunately in our image the S/N of this feature is pretty low, so further follow-up and confirming images will be very welcome.

UPDATE - June 10, 2011

Thanks to our fellow british observer Nick Howes, today we had the opportunity to image 174P/Echeclus nearly simultaneously with both the 2-m Faulkes Telescopes, under excellent seeing conditions, from Haleakala (Hawaii) and Siding Spring (Australia).

Stacking of R-filtered exposures for a total of 930 sec, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2011, June 10.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD under good seeing conditions, confirms the presence of a parabolic envelope, having 47-arcsec in diameter, and a broad tail (or a train of debrises) nearly 20-arcsec long and about 5-arcsecwide, toward PA 70. The nuclear condensation m2 has dropped to R about 19. Confirming observations of the above mentioned features were obtained nearly simultaneously with the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South.

Below you can see our combined image of the two observing sessions, for an equivalent total exposure time of 1530 seconds, R-filtered (click on the image for a bigger version)

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)

2011-06-09T11:36:00.004+02:00

IAUC nr.9215, issued on 2011, June 08, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.4) on four CCD images taken with the 1.8-m "Pan-STARRS 1" telescope at Haleakala, on images obtained on 2011, June 6.4. The new comet has been designated C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP. Stacking of 14 unfiltered exposures, 180-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, June 07.4 from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.35-m f/3.8 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is slightly diffused, with a hint of elongation toward the north-east.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-L33 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 L4: T 2013 Apr. 17.12; e= 1.0; Peri. = 331.67; q = 0.36 AU; Incl. = 104.74

According to this very preliminary orbit based on an arc of only 2 weeks, this comet might become a bright object ( ~ magnitude 2) around perihelion in March-April 2013 and better placed for southern hemisphere. Next weeks will tell us something more about the future of this comet!!

This is the second comet discovery for PANSTARRS.

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 L3 (McNAUGHT)

2011-06-06T22:57:00.004+02:00

IAUC nr.9214, issued on 2011, June 06, announces the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 16.3) by Robert H. McNaught through the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt + CCD at Siding Spring, on images obtained on 2011, June 3.7. The new comet has been designated C/2011 L3 (McNAUGHT).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP. Stacking of 30 unfiltered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, June 05.4 from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: strong central condensation and coma nearly 25-arcsec in diameter elongated toward PA 230.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-L28 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 L3: T Aug. 10.35; e= 1.0; Peri. = 27.63; q = 1.92 AU; Incl. = 87.09

IAUC nr.9212 & IAUC nr.9213 issued on June 06, 2011 reports the discovery by R. H. McNaught of 2 more comets: C/2011 L1 (MCNAUGHT) & C/2011 L2 (MCNAUGHT). So, according to COCD webpage, C/2011 L3 is the 62th comet discovery for Robert H. McNaught.

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

NOVA SCORPII 2011

2011-06-03T15:14:00.006+02:00

CBET circular No. 2735, issued on June 03, 2011, announces the discovery by John Seach (Australia) of a possible nova (mag 9.5) on three CCD images (limiting mag 11.0) taken on June 1.40 UT with a digital SLR camera (+ 50-mm-f.l. f/1.2 lens + orange filter).

We performed some follow-up of this object remotely with the GRAS RCOS 32-cm f/6.3 telescope at Officer, Australia. On our images taken on June 02.4, 2011 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 9.4 (USNO-B1.0 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 16 55 09.46, Decl.= -38 38 04.5

(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1.0 catalogue reference stars).

Our confirmation image (click for a bigger version):

Below you can see an animation showing a comparison between our confirming image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1995). Click on the thumbnail below for a bigger version:

CBET circular No. 2735 also reports that A. Arai, T. Kajikawa, and M. Nagashima, Kyoto Sangyo University, performed low-dispersion optical spectroscopic observations (range 400-750 nm; R about 600) of this transient on June 2.68 UT using the 1.3-m Araki telescope (+ LOSA/F2) under a hazy sky. The spectrum shows a broad H-alpha (FWZI about 4600 km/s) with an asymmetric profile and O I (777.4 nm) on a highly-reddened continuum. No visible He or Fe II lines exist in the spectrum. These features suggest that the object is a classical nova in outburst with high interstellar reddening.

(Credit: A. Arai, T. Kajikawa, and M. Nagashima)

by Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero

Outburst of 174P/Echeclus

2011-06-01T20:52:00.005+02:00

After reading on the [Comets-ml] forum about a possible outburst of centaur 174P/Echeclus, we performed some follow-up remotely, from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia) through a 0.15-m, f/7.3 refractor + CCD. Stacking of 7 unfiltered exposures 300 sec each, show the presence of a sharp central condensation having R magnitude about 18. We noticed also the presence of a jet-like feature nearly 6-arcsec long, emanating from the central condensation toward PA 60. A faint, spiral-like coma, having a total magnitude of about 16 and a diameter of 40-arcsec, surrounds the central condensation, resembling much comet 29P during the early phase of one of its recurrent outbursts.

Our June 01, 2011 image (click for a bigger version):

Centaurs, defined to have their perihelion outside of Jupiter (5.2 AU) and semimajor axis inside of Neptune (30.0 AU), have unstable orbits and have been extracted from the transneptunian objects (TNOs) population through perturbations by Neptune. So far only a few Centaurs have presented unambiguous evidence of cometary activity. The first Centaur known to present cometary activity was Chiron.

Echeclus was discovered by the Spacewatch program on March 3, 2000 (Marsden 2000) and initially labelled (60558) 2000 EC98. The presence of coma around (60558) 2000 EC98 was first detected by Choi and Weissman (2006) on 2005 December 30.50 UT with the Palomar 5m telescope. Soon after, the object was given the periodic comet designation 174P/Echeclus.

Below you can see some of our images dated back to 2006 when the coma was first discovered by Choi & Weissman:

March 2006

April 2006

By Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: P/2011 JB_15 (Spacewatch-Boattini)

2011-06-01T12:03:00.003+02:00

IAUC nr.9210, issued on 2011, May 31, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.1) by A. Boattini through the Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m reflector + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, May 28.3 After posting on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, this object was identified with an object reported as apparently asteroidal by the Spacewatch survey on May 8 and 12 and previously given the designation 2011 JB_15.

The new comet has been designated P/2011 JB_15 (SPACEWATCH-BOATTINI).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP. Stacking of 20 unfiltered exposures, 180-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, May 30.3 from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: coma nearly 8-arcsec in diameter with a very weak central condensation.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-K56 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet P/2011 JB_15: T 2012 Jan. 18.13; e= 0.32; Peri. = 110.46; q = 5.03 AU; Incl. = 19.15

According to COCD website this is the 49th comet discovery for Spacewatch survey and the 17th for Andrea Boattini.

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: C/2011 K1 (SCHWARTZ-HOLVORCEM)

2011-06-01T11:48:00.003+02:00

IAUC nr.9211, issued on 2011, May 31, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.5) by Paulo R. Holvorcem and Michael Schwartz through the Tenagra III 0.41-m astrograph + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, May 26.3 The new comet has been designated C/2011 K1 (SCHWARTZ-HOLVORCEM).

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

M.P.E.C. 2011-L04 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 K1: T 2011 Apr. 19.3; e=0.93; Peri. = 166.63; q = 3.35 AU; Incl. = 122.04

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 J3 (LINEAR)

2011-05-23T14:17:00.005+02:00

IAUC nr.9209, issued on 2011, May 20, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.7) by the LINEAR survey through their 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, May 14.3 The new comet has been designated C/2011 J3 (LINEAR).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEOCP, on 2011 May 18.4 remotely from the Tzec Maun Observatory.

Stacking of 34 unfiltered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, May 18.4 from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.4-m, f/9 reflector + CCD, shows that this object is a comet: very diffuse coma nearly 12 arcsec in diameter, with an extremely uncertain central condensation, that hampers a precise astrometric measurement.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-K11 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to comet C/2011 F1: T = 2011 Jan. 21.20; e= 0.88; Peri. = 24.81; q = 1.40 AU; Incl. = 114.81

According to COCD webpage, this is the 204th comet discovery for LINEAR Survey.

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)

2011-05-12T18:38:00.001+02:00

CBET nr.2714, issued on 2011, May 07, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 19.7) by the LINEAR survey through their 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, May 04.2 The new comet has been designated C/2011 J2 (LINEAR).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, this object has been found by several CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEO-CP, on 2011 May 05.5 and on May 06.5 remotely from the Tzec Maun Observatory.

After stacking nine unfiltered exposures, 300-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, May 5.5 from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia) through a 0.15-m, f/7.3 refractor + CCD, we suspected the cometary nature of this object, since it appeared "soft". On a second, confirmatory, observing session (stacking of twenty-three unfiltered exposures, 300-sec each, obtained through the same instrumentation on 2011, May 06.5) we might confirmed our suspect of a tiny coma, since the FWHM of this object was measured about 40% wider than that of nearby field stars of similar brightness.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-J31 assignes the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2011 F1: T = 2013 Dec. 23.18; Peri. = 85.62; q = 3.42 AU; Incl. = 122.69

According to COCD webpage, this is the 203th comet discovery for LINEAR Survey.

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

Bright Sungrazing Comet on May 10-11, 2011

2011-05-11T20:19:00.001+02:00

A new bright comet diving into the Sun has been discovered on May. 09 by amateur astronomer Sergey Shurpakov using the images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

C3 Image - May 10, 2011 (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

Yesterday's now-evaporated bright Kreutz comet didn't die alone! This small companion was visible by its side on this C2 image:

(Credit: SOHO; @SungrazerComets):

C2 Movie - May 11 ,2011 (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO)

This Kreutz probably peaked near mag 2. (It was just starting to saturate in the LASCO cameras)

You can read more details about 2010 bright SOHO comets here:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/11/bright-sungrazing-comet-on-november-17.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/11/bright-sungrazing-comet-on-1314.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-sungrazing-comet.html

by Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 H1 (Lemmon)

2011-05-10T16:58:00.005+02:00

IAUC nr.9206, issued on 2011, May 05, announced the discovery of an apparently asteroidal object (discovery magnitude 19.7) by Alex R. Gibbs on CCD images taken on April 26.3 with the Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m reflector. Gibbs suspected that this object might show slight cometary appearance.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEO-CP. Stacking of 8 unfiltered exposures, 300-sec each, obtained remotely on 2011, April 27.5 from the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia) through a 0.15-m, f/7.3 refractor + CCD, shows that this object is slightly diffused: its FWHM is nearly twice compared to that of nearby field stars of similar brightness.

Initially the object was given the minor-planet designation 2011 GK_71 on MPEC 2011-H41 based on a series of one-night astrometry (Apr. 14) from Spacewatch (that shows little or no cometary appearance). Other observations obtained with the Steward Observatory Bok 2.3-m f/3 reflector (+ 90Prime CCD camera) during Apr. 29.256- 29.301 in 1".3 seeing, shows the object appears nearly stellar, but with a coma diameter of 5" and a tail 9" long in p.a. 111 deg.

The new comet has been designated C/2011 H1 (Lemmon).

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-J24 assignes the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2011 H1: T = 2006 Jan. 31.13; Peri. = 100.93; q = 6.91 AU; Incl. = 73.98; Node = 35.58

According to COCD webpage, this is the 36th comet for the Mt. Lemmon Survey.

UPDATE - May 22, 2011

According to IAUC 9209, the name associated with C/2011 H1 on IAUC 9206 is being abandoned, due to the belated identification of this comet:

COMET C/2002 VQ_94 = C/2011 H1 (LINEAR)

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

Padova - May 08, 2011 - Meeting Sezione Comete UAI & CARA Project

2011-05-09T16:30:00.006+02:00

Photos from the Meeting of "Sezione Comete UAI" and "CARA Project" held in Padova, Italy on May 08, 2011:

http://bit.ly/iw1rTo

Specola di Padova

T PYXIDIS OUTBURST

2011-04-15T15:23:00.011+02:00

CBET No. 2700 issued on April 15, 2011 reports that the recurrent nova T Pyxidis has been discovered in outburst. It was detected by by Mike Linnolt at visual magnitude 13.0 on 2011 April 14.2931 and the outburst has been visually confirmed by several observers.

This is the first outburst of T Pyx since December 7, 1966 (discovered then by Albert Jones), nearly 45 years ago, when it reached visual magnitude 6.5 from fainter than 15th magnitude; it was brighter than magnitude 8 for two months. Previous outbursts occurred in 1890, 1902, 1920, and 1944. There are only ten known galactic recurrent novae.

Below you can see the five maxima of the recurrent nova T Pyx from 1890 to 1967.

(Credit: AAVSO)

AAVSO Light-Curve for the period 1966 to present.

(Credit: AAVSO)

T Pyxidis is 6,000 light-years away in the dim southern constellation Pyxis, the Mariner's Compass. In September 1997, astronomers released an image of T Pyxidis taken using the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble's image shows that the shells of gas around the star that were blown off during several eruptions, are actually more than 2,000 gaseous blobs packed into an area that is 1 light-year across.

(Credits: Mike Shara, Bob Williams, and David Zurek (Space Telescope Science Institute); Roberto Gilmozzi (European Southern Observatory); Dina Prialnik (Tel Aviv University); and NASA)

T Pyx is located at the following coordinates:

RA 09h 04m 41.5s DEC -32 22' 47.4" (2000)

On April 15.41 we have been able to image T Pyx remotely through Gras network from Officer, Australia (MPC Code - E03) using a RCOS 12.5" - FL 1950 @ f/6.3. The object has reached the unfiltered magnitude ~8.5. Click on the image for a bigger version.

Below you can find an animation showing a comparison between our image and the archive DSS plate (R Filter - 1992) - Click here for a bigger version:

Below you can see a a spectrum of T Pyx in its rising phase reported by Arai-san at Koyama Astron. Obs. (Kyoto Sangyo U.) :

Follow-up observations are strongly encouraged!!

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

2011 GP59 - Close Approach

2011-04-13T11:44:00.005+02:00

The Mpec circular 2011-G60 issued on April 09, 2011 announced the discovery of a new Aten asteroid officially designated 2011 GP59. This asteroid (~ magnitude 17.5) was discovered by La Sagra Survey through their 0.45-m f/2.8 reflector + CCD, on images obtained on April 08.9, 2011. After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, other CCD astrometrists have been able to follow-up the new object to define its orbit.

According to the preliminay orbit, 2011 GP59 is an Aten type asteroid. This class of asteroids are defined by having semi-major axes of less than one astronomical unit (the distance from the Earth to the Sun). 2011 GP59 will have a close approach with Earth on April 15, 2011 at 1909 UTC at rougly 0.003567AU or 1.39 LD (Lunar Distance) reaching the magnitude ~13. Its absolute magnitude H=24.30 correspond to an approximate diameter of 50 meters.

2011 GP59 shows evident magnitude fluctuations. Below you can see a light-curve made by Brian Skiff (Lowell Observatory): 6-hours of observations using the Lowell 0.55-m Schmidt with 45-second exposures showing an amplitude in excess of 2 full magnitudes over a period of roughly 7.5 minutes.

(Credit: Brian Skiff - Lowell Observatory)

We have been able to follow 2011 GP59 on April 12.35 remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. Below you can see an animation showing the fast movement (the object was moving at 10.5 "/min) of 2011 GP59 on the sky on April 12, 2011. Each frame is a stack of 2x20-second exposure. The asteroid is moving from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. In the animation you can easily see the rapid brightness fluctuations of this object.

Click on the thumbnail below to see the animation:

UPDATE - April 14, 2011 - 13:30UT

We imaged 2011 GP59 on April 14.36, 2011 remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.51-m, f/6.9 reflector + CCD.

It's a single unfiltered exposure of 600 seconds, showing 2011 GP59 as trail with brightness fluctuations clearly evident (click on the image for a bigger version) :

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: C/2011 G1 (MCNAUGHT)

2011-04-06T23:25:00.003+02:00

IAUC nr.9204, issued on 2011, Apr. 06, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 17.3) by R. H. McNaught on CCD images obtained on Apr. 05, 2011 with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring . The new comet has been designated C/2011 G1 (MCNAUGHT).

Stacking of 40 unfiltered exposures, 60-sec each, shows that this object a coma nearly 8-arcsec in diameter with a sharp central condensation, short tail about 15-arcsec long toward PA 15.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-G49 assignes the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2011 G1: T = 2011 Sep. 24.39; Peri. = 13.234; q = 1.81 AU; Incl. = 161.45; Node = 158.43

According to COCD webpage, this is the 59th comet discovery for LINEAR Survey.

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

New discovered PHA: 2011 GM44

2011-04-06T16:37:00.011+02:00

The Mpec circular 2011-G45 issued on April 06, 2011 announced the discovery of a new PHA asteroid officially designated 2011 GM44. This asteroid (~ magnitude 16) was discovered by R. H. McNaught through the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, on images obtained on April 05.4, 2011. After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, other CCD astrometrists have been able to follow-up the new object to define its orbit.

According to the preliminay orbit, 2011 GM44 is an Aten type asteroid. This class of asteroids are defined by having semi-major axes of less than one astronomical unit (the distance from the Earth to the Sun). It is also flagged as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid". PHA are asteroids larger than approximately 100m that might have threatening close approaches to the Earth (they can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU)

2011 GM44 had a close approach with Earth on April 01, 2011 at rougly 0.0234AU.

We have been able to follow it while still on the neocp using a the Tzec Maun Foundation scope: the Takahashi TOA-150 f/7.3 refractor + CCD (located near Moorook, Australia).

Our confirming image (click on it for a bigger version):

Below you can see an animation showing the fast (the object was moving at 13.5 "/min) movement of 2011 GM44 on the sky on April 05, 2011. Each frame is a single 20-second exposure. Click on the thumbnail below to see the animation:

You can download the .avi file (~ 13 MB) here: http://ge.tt/5i4czE8

by Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido

C/2011 C1 (McNaught) - Update

2011-04-04T15:38:00.006+02:00

C/2011 C1 (McNaught) is at present the brightest comet in the sky (~m1=10) and it will reach the perihelion on April 18, 2011 at about 0.9 AU. This comet was discovered by R. H. McNaught through the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, on images obtained on 2011, Feb. 10.7.

For more information about the discovery of this comet:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-comet-c2011-c1-mcnaught.html

We have observed this comet again on April 03, 2011 remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.51-m, f/6.9 reflector + CCD. Below you can see the resulting image, stacking of 15 unfiltered exposures, 20 seconds each. Click on the image for a bigger version.

While this is an animation composed of 15 frames x 20 seconds, showing the movement of the comet in the sky. Click here or on the thumbnail below for a bigger version:

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin)

2011-03-31T13:54:00.004+02:00

According to the current ephemerides, comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) promises to became a nice binocular object at the end of next summer. As for many new comets, there is still some discussion about the maximum brightness this comet might actually reach.

In order to provide further elements to the discussion, on 2011, March 14 we dedicated a few observing hours to C/2010 X1, using a couple of scopes kindly provided by the Tzec Maun Foundation: a RCOS 16" Ritchey-Chretien + CCD (located near Mayhill, NM) and a Takahashi TOA-150 f/7.3 refractor + CCD (located near Moorook, Australia).

We used V and R photometric filters, and a selection of different calibrated reference stars (Tycho catalogue). The first analysis indicate a compact coma about 15 arcsec in diameter; within such aperture, we measured the following magnitudes: V= 16.7, R= 16.5, with an uncertainty about 0.5 magn in each color (photometry of faint comets is always a tricky business, so this data must be taken anyway with a certain amount of caution).

The afrho parameter (proxy of the dust abundance within the coma) measured through an R-bessel filter, is close to a value 100 cm. Considering that the comet was about 3 Au from the Sun, this seems to indicate a relatively active object. It is always very risky to extrapolate the behavior of a newly discovered comet, expecially if it has a long period orbit, however we can say that, if its trend will continue this way, we might expect indeed a nice comet a few months from now. Probably a key factor will be the efficiency of water ice sublimation within the nucleus, that is expected to rise significantly in the next few weeks, when the comet will approach our star.

When the first visual estimations will be available, it would be possible to prepare a more reliable forecast about C/2010 X1 brightness peak.

Our image of C/2010 X1 (Elenin) (click for a bigger version):

by Giovanni Sostero and Ernesto Guido (CARA, AFAM)

New Comet: C/2011 F1 (LINEAR)

2011-03-21T19:28:00.005+01:00

IAUC nr.9202, issued on 2011, Mar. 21, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 18.3) by the LINEAR survey through their 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD, on images obtained on 2011, Mar. 17.3. The new comet has been designated C/2011 F1 (LINEAR).

Twelve stacked 120-s images taken remotely on Mar. 18.46-18.47 UT with a GRAS 0.51-m f/6.9 reflector show a sharp coma nearly 8" in diameter, elongated toward the southwest. While twenty unfiltered 180-s images obtained remotely on Mar. 18.43-18.49 with a 0.18-m f/7.3 refractor at the Tzec Maun Observatory (Cloudcroft, NM, U.S.A.) to find an extremely sharp and condensed coma nearly 10" in diameter

Our confirming images (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-F15 assignes the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2011 F1: T = 2013 Jan. 21.66; Peri. = 197.23; q = 1.62 AU; Incl. = 56.85

This comet may reach at least 9th magnitude at perihelion.

According to COCD webpage, this is the 202th comet discovery for LINEAR Survey.

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Images of 9P/Tempel by Stardust-NExT

2011-02-16T12:03:00.008+01:00

Last night the Stardust-NExT spacecraft successfully returned new images of the periodic comet 9P/Tempel, showing significant changes on the comet's surface as a result of its orbit around the Sun, and imaging a new territory on the comet for the first time. Moreover the impact location of 2005 "Deep Impact" projectile was imaged and it showed for the first time the resulting crater.

The Stardust-NExT mission was intended to complete the investigation of comet 9P/Tempel initiated in 2005 by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft. For more info about this flyby (178 kilometres at close approach), please see our previous post:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/02/stardust-next-and-comet-9ptempel.html

The mosaic image below shows four different views of comet Tempel 1 as seen by NASA's Stardust spacecraft (please click on each image to see a bigger version).

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell)

Below one of the close-approach images of comet 9P/Tempel

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell)

This image layout below depicts changes in the surface of comet Tempel 1, observed first by NASA's Deep Impact Mission in 2005 (top right) and again by NASA's Stardust-NExT mission on Feb. 14, 2011

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell)

These two images below shows the different views of comet Tempel 1 seen by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft in 2005 (left) and NASA's Stardust spacecraft in 2011 (right).

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell)

This pair of images below shows the before-and-after comparison of the part of comet 9P/Tempel that was hit by the impactor from NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft. The crater closely matched predictions, measuring approximately 150 metres in diameter. According to Pete Shultz of Brown University: "The crater was more subdued than perhaps we first thought, but it was the size we expected, which is consistent with the ejecta pattern we observed, and what we'd expect in an oblique, 30 degree impact. A lot of material came back down and the crater partly buried, or healed, itself. The cometary nucleus must be fragile and weak based on how subdued the crater is we see today."

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell)

Below you can see an animation showing (31 frames) the comet flyby:

Click on the thumbnail or the link below for a bigger version:

http://bit.ly/hu5WS6

The engineering telemetry showed the spacecraft flew through waves of disintegrating cometary particles, including a dozen impacts that penetrated more than one layer of its protective shielding. According to Don Brownlee, Stardust-NExT co-investigator: "The data indicate Stardust went through something similar to a B-17 bomber flying through flak in World War II. Instead of having a little stream of uniform particles coming out, they apparently came out in chunks and crumbled."

The Stardust-NExT spacecraft will continue to look at comet 9P/Tempel from afar to gain other useful information.

by Ernesto Guido

Stardust-NExT and Comet 9P/Tempel

2011-02-14T15:28:00.008+01:00

In the next few hours, precisely on February 14 at 20:48 PST (February 15 at 04:48 UTC), the Stardust spacecraft will have a flyby with the comet 9P/Tempel (also known as comet Tempel 1).

Stardust is a robotic space probe launched by NASA on February 7, 1999 to study the asteroid 5535 (Annefrank) and collect samples from the coma of comet Wild 2. After Stardust successfully completed his main mission, it was approved in 2007 an extension to redirect the probe to explore the comet 9P/Tempel. The mission was renamed "New Exploration of Tempel 1" or "NExT".

Comet 9P/Tempel was the target of the Deep Impact mission in 2005 as the comet was inbound toward the Sun on its approximately 5.5-year orbit between Mars and Jupiter, sending an impactor into the surface of the comet. The impact and the ejected material were observed from the spacecraft and many ground-based observers.

The 2005 head-on collision of comet 9P/Tempel and the Deep Impact impactor

(Credit: NASA)

Animation of the 2005 Deep Impact on 9P/Tempel

(Credit: NASA)

During the flyby (at a projected distance of 200 km), Stardust-NExT will image some of the same surface areas that Deep Impact photographed 6 years ago, revealing how these areas have changed. This is the first time we'll see a close-up view of the same comet before and after its closest approach to the sun. In particular the hope is to be able to image the impact location of Deep Impact projectile. In fact Deep Impact's cameras were unable in 2005 to see through the enormous cloud of dust the impactor had stirred up.

Below you can see the planned imaging of Comet Tempel 1 by Stardust-NExT during flyby. Blue area is comet unseen surface never imaged by Deep Impact during 2005 flyby.

Bulls eye in yellow area is expected location of 2005 impact crater and expected new coverage.

Credit: NASA

As soon as new images of comet 9P/Tempel will be available, we'll post it on the blog. Stay tuned!!

by Ernesto Guido

New Comet: C/2011 C1 (McNAUGHT)

2011-02-13T10:17:00.002+01:00

IAUC nr.9197, issued on 2011, Feb. 12, announced the discovery of a new comet (discovery magnitude 17) by R. H. McNaught through the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, on images obtained on 2011, Feb. 10.7. The new comet has been designated C/2011 C1 (McNAUGHT).

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-C79 assignes the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2011 C1: T = 2011 Apr. 17.953 TT Peri. = 84.440; q = 0.88341 AU; Incl. = 16.831

According to COCD webpage, this is the 58th comet discovery for McNaught!!

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

2011 CQ1 - Very Close Approach

2011-02-04T15:57:00.009+01:00

The newly discovered object, officially designated 2011 CQ1, will make a close Earth approach today February 04, 2011 around 19:40UT at ~0.03(LD)/0.00008(AU) or 11855 km.

2011 CQ1 has been discovered by R. A. Kowalski few hours ago in the course of the "Catalina Sky Survey" with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD. The object was moving at roughly 6 "/min and it was of magnitude ~19. According to its absolute magnitude H=32 this is a very small object, in the order of 2-3 meters.

Just few hours after his discovery, we have been able to follow-up this object using remotely a 0.35-m f/3.8 reflector + CCD of "Tzec Maun Observatory" in New Mexico. At the moment of our images (on February 04.46), "2011 CQ1" was moving at 23"/min and its magnitude was ~18.

Here you can see our image (stacking of 20 unfiltered exposures, 10 seconds each). Click on the image for a bigger version:

While this is an animation showing the object movement in the sky:

According to Bill Gray (Findorb developer): "That perigee value is solid to within a few kilometers. So no chance of an impact, but still _very_ close!!"

The orbital element published here, are very interesting:

2011 CQ1
Perigee 2011 Feb 4.818749 TT = 19:38:59 (JD 2455597.318749)
Epoch 2011 Feb 4.8 TT = JDT 2455597.3 Find_Orb
q 11855.6869km (2000.0) P Q
H 32.1 G 0.15 Peri. 156.15870 -0.32177738 -0.84067340
Node 92.60696 -0.92360962 0.17747398
e 1.7936521 Incl. 25.85075 -0.20833766 0.51163581
From 11 observations 2011 Feb. 4 (6.3 hr); mean residual 0".362.

As shown by the ephemeris, 2011 CQ1 will be visible for a few hours. It would be really interesting to follow-up this object in the next few hours, during its very close approach when it will reach the magnitude 14!

UPDATE - February 04, 2011 - 19:35UT

On mpml mailing list, Andrew Lowe pointed out that "that 2011 CQ1 will transit the sun shortly after its close approach. Based on astrometry up to MPEC 2011-C14, its "centre line" will start to cross the earth at Feb. 4.831 UT around N11 E160, with mid-transit at Feb 4.844 (S24 W125; south Pacific) and ending at Feb 04.858 (S29 W30)"

Andrew has supplied three coordinates on the centerline:

First contact: Feb 4.831 UT 11N, 160E (west of the Marshall Islands,
near Enewetak)

Mid-transit: Feb 4.844 UT 24S, 125W (French Polynesia, east of
Pitcairn Island)

Final contact: Feb 4.858 UT 29S, 30W (south Atlantic, off the coast
of Brazil)

Following this suggestion, Bill Gray calculated a transit line plot showing the path over South America. You can see the charts here:

http://www.projectpluto.com/cq1.png

http://www.projectpluto.com/cq1a.png

UPDATE - February 05, 2011 - 09:30UT

According to a press release by NASA/JPL, 2011 CQ1 is "the closest non-impacting object in our asteroid catalog to date. It passed to within 0.85 Earth radii (5480 km) of the Earth's surface over a region in the mid-Pacific"

Prior to the Earth close approach, this object was in a so-called Apollo-class orbit that was mostly outside the Earth's orbit. Following the close approach, the Earth's gravitational attraction modified the object's orbit to an Aten-class orbit where the asteroid spends almost all of its time inside the Earth's orbit.

NASA press release contains this diagram where is evident how the close Earth approach changed the asteroid's flight path by about 60 degrees:

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/2011cq1.gif

By Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido

Observations of NEOs 2011 BB45 & 2011 BA45

2011-02-03T22:51:00.011+01:00

In the past few days a number of faint objects discovered by Pan-STARRS (PS1 System - Haleakala - mpc code F51) have been added to the Neo Confirmation Page on the MPC website.

PS1 is a 1.8-m Ritchey-Chretien + CCD that, according to PS1SC Blog, "comes equipped with the worlds largest digital camera which has 1.4 billion pixels (over 250 times the number of pixels in an iPhone’s camera). This along with the telescope’s design allows it to observe with a three degree field of view (six full moons across)"

We have been able to follow a couple of these very faint objects using the 2.0-m Faulkes Telescope North (Haleakala - mpc code F65).

Below you can see the animations of 2011 BA45 (~ magnitude 19.8) & 2011 BB45 (~ magnitude 20.5 ) obtained on February 02, 2011:

Discovery mpecs:

Asteroid Type MOID H
2011 BB45 Amor 0.08815 19.6
2011 BA45 Apollo 0.11601 21.5

http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/mpec/K11/K11C05.html

http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/mpec/K11/K11C06.html

By Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: C/2011 A3 (GIBBS)

2011-01-18T08:28:00.005+01:00

IAUC nr.9193, issued on 2011, Jan. 17, announced the discovery of a new comet (magnitude roughly 18) by A. R. Gibbs through the Catalina 0.68-m Schmidt telescope, on images obtained on 2011, Jan. 15.5. The new comet has been designated C/2011 A3 (GIBBS).

After posting on the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' webpage, other CCD astrometrists have also commented on the object's cometary appearance. We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEO-CP, on 2011 Jan. 16.4 and 17.4, remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD and with the Tzec Maun Observatory 0.35-m f/3.8.

Our fourteen stacked 120-s unfiltered images taken with GRAS 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector show a sharp coma nearly 8" in diameter (red mag 17.5-17.6) with a faint tail about 15" long toward p.a. 280 deg. While 27 stacked 180-s exposures taken with a Tzec Maun Observatory 0.35-m f/3.8 reflector shows a coma diameter of about 10" with a central condensation and a faint tail about 12" long toward p.a. 280 deg.

Our confirming image (click for a bigger version):

MPEC 2011-B07 assign to the new comet C/2011 A3 the following very preliminary parabolic orbital elements: T = 2011 Oct. 4.469 TT, q = 1.09867 AU, Incl. = 22.805, e = 1.0

According to COCD webpage, this is the 17th comet discovery for Gibbs!!

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Comet-like appearance of (596) Scheila

2010-12-12T02:45:00.006+01:00

CBET nr.2583, issued on 2010, Dec. 12, announced the discovery of a spiral like structure around main belt asteroid (596) Scheila by Steve Larson in the course of Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) through the Catalina 0.68-m Schmidt telescope, on images obtained on 2010, Dec. 11.4. The cometary appearance has been confirmed by other observers.

In the Catalina images, the "coma" is bright (Vtotal~13.5), and extends some 2 arcmin north and 5 arcmin west from the central condensation.

We have been able to confirm this object remotely, using a 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD located in Nerpio (Spain): on December 12.01, co-adding of 7 unfiltered exposures, 60-seconds each, shows a wide spiral like tail. The longest part of this spiral tail is 1' in PA 280 while the small part is 30" in PA 22. You can see our image below:

According to the "Dictionary of Minor Planet Names" by Lutz D. Schmadel, (596) Scheila was discovered on 1906 Feb. 21 by A. Kopff at Heidelberg. Named in honor of an acquaintance of the discoverer, an English woman student in Heidelberg. (596) Scheila is a main-belt asteroid inclined roughly 14 degree on the ecliptic and it is now 3.1AU from the Sun and 0.8AU out of the ecliptic. With an absolute magnitude H8.9 the estimated diameter is 113Km.

Orbit Diagram of (596) Scheila:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=596&orb=1

So this object is a potential new member of the recently recognized class of main-belt comets introduced by Jewitt & Hsieh in 2006 . These objects are remarkable for having both the orbital characteristics of asteroids and the physical characteristics of comets: they look like comets because they show comae and tails but they have orbits interior to Jupiter's and Tisserand parameters substantially larger than 3, like asteroids.

The Tisserand parameter of (596) is T_jup = 3.209

UPDATE - December 12, 11:30 UT

We have imaged again (596) Scheila at 08:20UT of December 12, 2010, this time remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. Below you can see the new image - stack of 8x120sec exposures:

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Bright Sungrazing Comet on November 17-19, 2010

2010-11-20T22:58:00.006+01:00

Only few days after the bright sungrazing comet of November 13/14, another new bright comet diving into the Sun has been discovered on Nov. 17 by Michal Kusiak using the images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object too belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

LASCO C2 Image - November 19, 2010

(Credit: SOHO)

C2 Movie (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version)

(Credit: SOHO)

We've had many bright Kreutz comets this year... A sign of a big one on its way?

Recently, different studies (Sekanina & Chodas 2007; Knight & Hearn 2008) have shown that the flow of Kreutz comets (correct of all systematic errors) increased. In the years since 1997 to 2002 for the Kreutz comet brighter that eighth magnitude has been calculated an average of about 83 new discoveries each year, while in the period 2003 - 2007 the average annual discovery rate risen to 125. This increase also applies to the findings of comets brighter than sixth magnitude where there was a increase in the flux of comets around 80%.

Sekanina and Chodas (2007) noted the increase in raw discoveries and suggested it may be “an early warning of another cluster of bright sungrazers approaching the Sun in coming decades.”

On November 18, 2010 the leading expert on Kreutz comets (reduced the observations of almost all of SOHO's ~1950 comets), Brian Marsden passed away after a prolonged illness. He will be remembered as contributing much to celestial mechanics and the dynamics and orbits of minor bodies of the solar system and as having an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of astronomy. Obituary on Sky & Telescope website and on mpec 2010-W10

by Ernesto Guido

Bright Sungrazing Comet on 13/14 November 2010

2010-11-16T22:41:00.007+01:00

A new bright comet diving into the Sun has been discovered on Nov. 13th by Masanori Uchina using the images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

Several sungrazing comets are discovered each year in SOHO images, many of them are very small and faint while sometimes some bigger and bright fragments arrive in the proximity of the Sun.

As expected, this sungrazing comet has not survived the close encounter with the sun.

C2 Image - November 14 ,2010

(Credit : SOHO)

C2 Movie (click to see a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO & Spaceweather)

You can read more details about other recently 2010 bright SOHO comets here:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/bright-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-sungrazing-comet.html

by Ernesto Guido

Evolution of the morphology of comet C/2010 V1

2010-11-08T16:31:00.003+01:00

The recently discovered comet C/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami) has been probably discovered thanks to an outburst. In fact IAUC 9183 reports that Kaoru Ikeya swept the comet's position also on Nov. 1, but did not see the comet down to mag 9-10, despite better conditions than on the 2nd. Moreover the evolution of its coma morphology is rapidly changing from night to night.

Here you can see our last image of this comet (stack of 10X30seconds exposures) obtained on 2010 Nov. 08.5, remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD.

Please click here for a bigger image.

Below an animation showing the evolution of the morphology of comet C/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami) starting from our first image dated Nov. 04 to the last image dated Nov. 08, 2010 (in the animation the image of Nov. 7 is not present due to cloudy sky):

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Comet 103P/Hartley by EPOXI

2010-11-08T11:12:00.009+01:00

As most of you already know, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft (renamed EPOXI) successfully flew 700 kilometers away from comet 103P/Hartley on Thursday November 04, 2010. This comet is the fifth comet nucleus visited by a spacecraft (the other four are: Halley, Tempel 1, Borrelly and Wild 2).

"Early observations of the comet show that, for the first time, we may be able to connect activity to individual features on the nucleus," said EPOXI Principal Investigator Michael A'Hearn of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Below you can find the flyby images released until now.

Montage showing the comet approached by the spacecraft. The sun is to the right.

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD )

Close-up view of comet 103P/Hartley taken by NASA's EPOXI

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD )

Image showing jets and where they originate from the surface of comet

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD )

Below an image montage showing all the five comet nucleus visited by a spacecraft. Comet 103P/Hartley is by far the smallest and has the most activity in relation to its surface area.

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD )

The analysis of the data acquired is underway and more revelations about comet 103P/Hartley are expected.

Congrats to the all the EPOXI team for this spectacular flyby!!

by Ernesto Guido

Comet C/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami)

2010-11-05T14:29:00.002+01:00

The new bright morning comet announced yesterday has been officially designated C/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami). The mpec 2010-V46 with the first and preliminary orbit has been issued and it shows the perihelion already on Oct. 18, 2010, at about 1.7 AU.

Today we performed again some follow-up of this bright object to obtain more astrometric measures that are important to compute a reliable orbit. Below you can see the image (stack of 10X20seconds exposures) obtained on 2010 Nov. 05.5, remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. It's still evident the strong central condensation and the elongation toward PA 295.

Please click here for a bigger version.

According to COCD webpage this is the 7th visual comet discovery for Ikeya (co-discoverer also of the famous 1965's sungrazer Comet Ikeya-Seki) and the 2nd for Murakami.

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Bright Comet: "2010 V1"

2010-11-04T15:07:00.006+01:00

IAUC nr.9175, issued on 2010, Nov. 03, announces the visual discovery of a new bright comet by two Japanese amateur astronomers, Kaoru Ikeya and Shigeki Murakami. The new comet has been designated "2010 V1". The orbit is still not available, it will be ready when more astrometric observations will be available.

This is the second visual comet discovery of 2010, after the discovery in March of comet C/2010 F4 by Don Machholz.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object few hours ago, on 2010 Nov. 04.5, remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD. Our stackings shows a coma diameter of nearly 2 arcminutes, elongated toward PA 295 and a strong central condensation.

Please click here for a bigger version.

This comet is currently at a solar elongation of only 32 degree with a ccd magnitude around 12 and a visual magnitude around 8.

Congratulations to Ikeya and Murakami for this discovery!!

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Comet 103P/Hartley

2010-11-03T12:12:00.031+01:00

Tomorrow November 04, at 13:50 UTC the Deep Impact spacecraft (renamed EPOXI for this extended mission) will have a close encounter with the comet 103P/Hartley. At closest approach (roughly 700 kilometers), the spacecraft imager named MRI (Medium Resolution Imager) will achieve about 7 meters per pixel, and the nucleus should appear about 170 pixels across. When EPOXI will reaches the comet, it will be nearly 1.1 astronomical units away from the Sun and only 0.15 astronomical units from Earth.

Comet 103P/Hartley was discovered by Malcolm Hartley in 1986 at the Schmidt Telescope Unit in Siding Spring, Australia. It belongs to the Jupiter family of comets (orbital period of 6.47 years) and it has a nucleus of about 2 km. So far only 4 comet nucleii have been explored by a spacecraft (Halley, Tempel 1, Borrelly and Wild 2), but comet 103P is unlike the others.

Discovery image (1986)

(U. K. Schmidt Telescope Unit, Siding Spring Observatory)

According to principal investigator Mike A'Hearn: "Comet Hartley 2 is smaller yet much more active than others comets. Although its core is only 2 km wide—about, a third the size of Tempel 1, it is spewing five times more gas and dust." The EPOXI team observed a strange activity on the comet in September: the abundance of CN in the comet's atmosphere jumped by a factor of five over an eight day period but there was no corresponding increase in dust. This was unexpected and never been seen in a comet before. In fact usually a gas surge is accompanied by a dust increment too.

(Credit: EPOXI)

To help the EPOXI team in their rendez-vous with the comet, the astronomical community (amateurs & professionals) are imaging the comet.

WISE spacecraft imaged the dust trail of 103P/Hartley on May 10, 2010. The dust trail (not to be confused with with the dust tail) is a "path of particles that the comet leaves during each of its trips through the inner solar-system". The extent of the trail seen in this view, behind the comet, is 1.8 million kilometers.

(Credit: WISE)

The comet was imaged on September 25, by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). At the time of the Hubble observation, the comet was 1.153 astronomical units (172 million km) from the Sun and 0.218 astronomical units (32.6 million km) from Earth.

(Credit: NASA, ESA, and H. Weaver)

At the end of October 2010 (from 24 to 31 Oct.), the Arecibo planetary radar system was used to make images of comet 103P/Hartley. The radar delay-Doppler images obtained show the nucleus to be a highly elongated, bilobate object with a long-axis dimension of at least 2.2 km. The images give a preliminary rotation period estimate of 18.1 +/- 0.3 hours, although a less likely period of 13.2 hours cannot be ruled out.

(Credit: Arecibo - NAIC)

Below you can see a graph showing the preliminary results of the Italian Sezione-Comete /CARA regarding the trend of the Afrho parameter of 103P/Hartley in this apparation. For comparison in the graph there are also observations from the 1997/1998 apparition:

(Credit: CARA)

Please click here for a bigger version.

This is a list of all the observers who contributed to this graph with their observations: Paolo Bacci, Walter Borghini, Erik Bryssink, Dario Castellano, Gianni Galli, Ernesto Guido, Bernhard Hausler, Nick Howes, Rolando Ligustri, Herman Mikuz, Giannantonio Milani, Martino Nicolini, Carmen Perrella, Jure Skvarc, Giovanni Sostero, Roberto Trabatti.

Below you can see an image of 103P/Hartley imaged by N. Howes with the 2.0 meter Faulkes Telescope North (FTN) and processed by M. Nicolini using the Median Coma Model (MCM) developed by himself. The MCM filter creates an artificial coma, based on the photometry of the original image, and subtract the original image itself in order to highlight the internal zones of different brightness that are very close to the inner core and that would normally be hidden from the diffuse glow of the comet:

In the anti-solar direction (from bottom center right), we see the brightest part of the coma that extends to form the tail. But the most interesting thing is in the direction of sunlight (from the center to the top left) where there is obviously some sort of "jet" With a PA (Position Angle) of about 50 degrees.

On Oct. 26, the spacecraft's two cameras, a High-Resolution Imager (HRI), and a Medium-Resolution-Imager (MRI), caught two jets firing off the comet's surface over a 16-hour period.

While waiting for the exciting flyby of tomorrow here a recent image of 103P/Hartley imaged on October 11, 2010 by E. Guido & G. Sostero:

Please click here for a bigger version.

by Ernesto Guido

Follow-up of 164P/Christensen

2010-10-28T16:52:00.003+02:00

On 2010, Oct 28.47, we were able to secure some additional follow-up about the faint returning comet 164P/Cristensen. The images were obtained through the Faulkes Telescope South (Siding Spring, Australia), a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.

At the time of our observation the comet was about 70 deg above the horizon, in a moonless sky. Under good seeing conditions (FWHM of nearby field stars about 1 arcsec) we stacked several R filtered exposures, 60-sec each, and found the comet moving at the expected postion: 164P/Christensen was a starlike object, at about magnitude R~ 20.

Please click here for a bigger version.

Its measured astrometry was in good agreement with our previous recovery data batch of 2010, Oct 7 and 11 (see our previous post here).

We kindly acknowledges the Faulkes Telescope Project for the telescope time we used.

by N. Howes, G. Sostero and E. Guido

Bright Close Approach: 2003 UV11

2010-10-28T12:51:00.006+02:00

The asteroid designated 2003 UV11 was discovered on October 21, 2003 by B. Skiff during the LONEOS survey with a 0.59-m Schmidt. According to its absolute magnitude (H=19.3) this object has an estimated diameter of roughly 400-500 meters, so it is a relatively large near-Earth asteroid. 2003 UV11 will have a close approach with Earth on 2010 October 30 when it will be within 0.013 AU (~5 lunar distances). The asteroid will reach a magnitude around 12 over the next few days (28/30 October 2010), becoming an easy target for small-medium sized telescopes + ccd.

We have been able to follow-up 2003 UV11 on October 28 at 07:00UT (01:00am local time) through the GRAS network, using a scope located in Mayhill (NM). Below you can see our animation composed of 15 unfiltered exposures, 10-seconds each obtained by means of a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD:

Please click on the thumbnail for the bigger version (~15MB size):

While this is a composite image obtained by adding 15x10sec exposures images:

Please click here for a bigger version of this image.

When we shoot our image this rock was at 0.030 AU from Earth and speeding at about 30"/min, shining at about magnitude 12.3. At the moment of its close approach on October 30, this object will be moving roughly at 160"/min.

2003 UV11 will be observed with the Arecibo and Goldstone radars on Oct. 30, 2010, when it will be a very strong radar target.

By Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Bright Sungrazing Comet

2010-10-21T15:06:00.011+02:00

A new bright comet (designated SOHO-1932) diving into the Sun has been discovered on Oct. 19th by Bo Zhou using the images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group comet, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.

Several sungrazing comets are discovered each year in SOHO images, many of them are very small and faint while sometimes some bigger and bright fragments arrive in the proximity of the Sun.

SOHO-1932

(Credit : SOHO)

SOHO-1932 in C2 (long, thin tail is well over a million-km long in this image)

(Credit : SOHO)

Please click here for a bigger version.

Animation of SOHO-1932 (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version)

(Credit : SOHO & Spaceweather)

You can read more details about other recently 2010 bright SOHO comets here:

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/bright-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-sungrazing-comet.html

http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-sungrazing-comet.html

by Ernesto Guido

New Comet: P/2010 U2 (HILL)

2010-10-19T12:24:00.004+02:00

IAUC nr.9174, issued on 2010, Oct. 18, announced the discovery of a new periodic comet by R. E. Hill through the Catalina 0.68-m Schmidt telescope, on images obtained on 2010, Oct. 17.3. The new comet has been designated P/2010 U2 (HILL).

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object while it was still listed in the NEO-CP, on 2010 Oct. 17.5 and 18.3, remotely from the GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD.

Analysis of two different series of 10 unfiltered stacked images, 120-seconds each, showed that this object appeared non-stellar. Through our images, we were unable to discriminate a definitive coma, however we measured on both nights its FWHM nearly 40% wider compared to that of nearby field stars of similar brightness, indicating a slightly diffuse nature at the threshold limit of our instrumental set-up and seeing conditions.

In our stackings of both nights, there was also a hint of elongation in a south-west to north-east direction (or the other way around, not easy to tell), while the field stars had an ordinary symmetrical profile. This might indicate the presence of a little tail or elongated coma, below our resolving power for that night (and, indeed, the discoverer reported a thin tail about 15"-20" long in p.a. 240 deg).

Our confirming image (click here for a bigger version):

This object was previously reported in a "one stand" night of observations by the "La Sagra" sky Survey, with observations dating back to 2010, oct. 1.1

Preliminary orbital elements published by the Minor Planet Center, assign to P/2010 U2 an elliptical orbit, with: T = 2010 Nov. 9.746 TT, e = 0.40365, q = 2.55669 AU, Peri. = 44.270 deg, Node = 357.247 deg, i = 16.910 deg, equinox 2000.0, P = 8.9 years

by E. Guido, G. Sostero, L. Donato & V. Gonano

Recovery of Comet 164P/Christensen

2010-10-13T10:53:00.004+02:00

MPEC 2010-T98, issued 2010 October 13, reports our recovery of comet 164P/Christensen. We found the comet on October 07 and October 11, 2010 at about magnitude 20.4. We imaged it remotely from D96 code (Moorook) using a 0.15-m f/7.3 refractor + CCD.

On 2010, Oct.11 the seeing conditions at Moorook (Australia) were exceptional, so we had the chance to identify the comet at the very limit of our capabilities, as a faint dot of light (magnitude about 20.4). Then, knowing where to look for, we searched in our archive images, and found it again in our stackings of 2010, Oct. 7; then we had the astrometry over two nights, that was fitting pretty well the expected orbit of 164P.

However comet 164P/Christensen is much fainter (more than 3 magnitudes) compared to the predictions.

Our recovery image (details on image):

Please click here for a bigger version.

Comet 164P/Christensen was last observed (before our recovery) on June 18, 2005 by G96 (Mt. Lemmon Survey).

by G. Sostero, E. Guido, L. Donato & V. Gonano

Small Asteroid FlyBy: 2010 TD54

2010-10-12T20:30:00.004+02:00

The small asteroid 2010 TD54 passed at about 45,500 kilometers above the Earth on October 12, 2010. The asteroid was discovered on October 09, 2010 by one of the telescope of the Catalina Sky Survey.

According to NASA JPL website, this small object is estimated to be about 5 to 10 meters wide. 2010 TD54 has zero probability of impacting Earth. Anyway objects of these size are expected to burn up high in the atmosphere and cause no damage to Earth's surface.

We have been able to follow-up 2010 TD54 few hours before its closest approach, on October 12 at 07:00UT (01:00am local time) through the GRAS network, using a scope located in Mayhill (NM). Below you can see our animation composed of 3 unfiltered exposures, 120-seconds each obtained by means of a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD:

Click here for a bigger version:

Below you can see a single 120-second exposure showing the asteroid as a trail among the field stars:

Please click here for a bigger version.

When we shoot our image this rock was speeding at about 220"/min, shining at about magnitude 15.6

By Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: P/2010 T1 (McNAUGHT)

2010-10-06T16:04:00.003+02:00

IAU circular No. 9172, issued on October 05, 2010, announces the discovery by R. H. McNaught of a diffuse comet on CCD images obtained with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope. After posting on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, some observers have commented on the cometary appearance of this 18.5 magnitude object, designated P/2010 T1 (McNAUGHT).

We have been able to confirm this object remotely, using a 0.15-m f/7.3 refractor at the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia): on October 5.6, co-adding of 16 unfiltered exposures, 300-seconds each, shows a coma nearly 7-arcsec in diameter with a central condensation, and a broad fan-shaped tail about 12-arcsec long toward PA 310.

Our confirming image (click here for a bigger version):

The preliminary orbit for comet P/2010 T1 (McNAUGHT) shows perihelion on November 24, 2010, at about 3.2 AU. The period is about 10.2 years.

This is the 57th comet discovered by McNaught.

by G. Sostero, E. Guido, L. Donato & V. Gonano

New Comet: C/2010 S1 (LINEAR)

2010-09-27T23:04:00.004+02:00

IAU circular No. 9170, issued on September 24, 2010, announces the discovery by the LINEAR survey of an apparently asteroidal object found to show cometary appearance by other CCD astrometrists. The discovery observation was obtained by LINEAR on Sept. 21.3 UT with a 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD. After posting on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, some observers have commented on the cometary appearance of this 18 magnitude object, designated C/2010 S1 (LINEAR).

We have been able to confirm this object remotely, through the GRAS network, using a scope located in Mayhill (NM): 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD.: on Sept. 24.3, co-adding of 18 unfiltered exposures, 120-seconds each, show that this object appears soft compared to nearby field stars of similar brightness with a slight elongation in the east-west direction.

Our confirming image (click on the image for a bigger version):

The preliminary orbit for comet C/2010 S1 (LINEAR) shows perihelion on May 09, 2013, at about 4.4 AU.

According to COCD website, this is the 199th comet discovery for LINEAR.

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

New Comet: P/2010 R2 (LA SAGRA)

2010-09-21T22:43:00.004+02:00

IAU circular No. 9169, issued on September 20, 2010, announces the discovery by La Sagra Sky Survey (LSSS) of a new comet on Sept. 14.9 UT with a 0.45-m f/2.8 reflector. After posting on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage, some observers have commented on the cometary appearance of this 18.4 magnitude object, designated P/2010 R2 (LA SAGRA).

We have been able to confirm this object remotely, using a 0.15-m f/7.3 refractor at the Tzec Maun Observatory (near Moorook, Australia): on Sept. 17.6, co-adding of 12 unfiltered exposures, 300-seconds each, show a condensed coma nearly 10-arcsec in diameter.

Our confirming image (click on the image for a bigger version):

According to the IAUC No. 9169 & the latest orbital elements on MPEC 2010-S28, this object appears to be another "main-belt comet", similar to 133P = (7968) Elst-Pizarro.

This is the 4th discovery for the amateur survey La Sagra. Congratulation to the LSSS team members. The full discovery story has been posted on LSSS website:

http://bit.ly/cl3Chm

by G. Sostero, E. Guido, L. Donato & V. Gonano

Recovery of Comet 123P/West-Hartley

2010-09-21T22:18:00.004+02:00

MPEC 2010-R111, issued 2010 Sept. 14, reports our recovery of comet 123P/West-Hartley. We found the comet on September 12, 2010 at magnitude 19.8. We imaged it from Malina River Observatory, Povoletto (B90) using a 0.25-m f/10 reflector + CCD.

We performed the second night of follow-up on September 13, 2010. In our stackings the comet appears shows a narrow tail about 15-arcsec long toward PA 267

Our recovery image (details on image):

Please click on the image for a bigger version.

Comet 123P/West-Hartley was last observed (before our recovery) on July 20, 2004 by Siding Spring Survey (E12).

by G. Sostero, E. Guido, L. Donato & V. Gonano

Asteroids Flyby: 2010 RF12 & 2010 RX30

2010-09-08T10:49:00.007+02:00

Two small asteroids (2010 RF12 & 2010 RX30) will pass within the Moon's distance of Earth today, September 08, 2010. Both objects were discovered by the professional "Catalina Sky Survey" on September 05, 2010 with the 1.5-m telescope at Mount Lemmon in Arizona.

According to Nasa JPL website, 2010 RX30 has a value of H=27.1 and is estimated to be 10 to 20 meters in size and will pass within 0.6 lunar distances of Earth (about 248,000 km) at 9:51 Greenwich standard time. While 2010 RF12 With an absolute magnitude of H=28.1 is estimated to be 6 to 14 meters in size will pass within 0.2 lunar distances (79,000 km) a few hours later at 21:12 Greenwich standard time.

Although both objects are coming inside the orbit of the Moon, there is no danger of impact!! (anyway objects of these dimensions would mostly burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere in case of an impact)

We have been able to follow-up 2010 RF12 few hours ago, on September 08 at at 06:45am UT (00:45am local time) through the GRAS network, using a scope located in Mayhill (NM). Below you can see our animation composed of 4 unfiltered exposures, 30-seconds each obtained by means of a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD:

Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version

While below you can see a single 120-second exposure showing the asteroid as a trail among the field stars:

Please click here for a bigger version.

When we shoot our image this rock was speeding at about 31 deg/day, shining at about magnitude 15.

By Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero