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").
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
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