Unusual Minor Planet 2012 HD2

The unusual minor planet 2012 HD2 was discovered on 2012, April 18 by J. V. Scotti with the 0.9-m f/3 reflector + CCD at Steward Observatory on Kitt Peak (see M.P.E.C. 2012-H32). according to the latest orbital solution available, this object moves along a comet-like orbit with an Inclination of 146.9 deg,  Eccentricity = 0.96, Perihelion distance = 2.55 AU and Period = 668 years.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp, remotely from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2012, Apr. 19.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.  No cometary features are visible in our images, the object has the same aspect of the nearby field stars of similar brightness (FWHM= 1.2").

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

Below you can see an animation showing the movement of 2012 HD2. Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

by Ernesto Guido, Oliver Tunnah, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes

Possible Nova in Sgr

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page about a possible Nova in Sgr (TOCP Designation: PNV J17452791-2305213) we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector + CCD from MPC code H06 (Mayhill station, NM).

On our images taken on April 22.4, 2012 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude 9.1  at coordinates:

R.A. = 17 45 28.02, Decl.= -23 05 23.2

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

According to VIZIER there is a 16.21 R1-magnitude star at 0.237 arcseconds from the transient position (USNO-B1.0 0669-0621295).

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

An animation showing a comparison between our confirmation image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1996). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

UPDATE - April 25, 2012

According to Cbet 3089, spectra obtained by Christian Buil and Kazuyoshi Imamura, Okayama University of Science (OUS) shows emission lines of H-alpha. The transient appears to be a classical nova. This nova, designated NOVA SAGITTARII 2012, has been discovered by Stanislav Korotkiy and Kirill Sokolovsky, on three 30-s unfiltered CCD images (limiting magnitude about 14.0) obtained on Apr. 21.011 UT with a wide-field survey camera (+ 135-mm-f.l. f/2 telephoto lens + ST8300M camera) at Ka-Dar Observatory's TAU Station near Nizhny Arkhyz, Russia.


by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Giovanni Sostero

Another Possible Nova in Cen

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page about a possible Nova in Cen (TOCP Designation: J14250600-5845360) 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 April 09.5, 2012 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with Bessell-R CCD magnitude 8.7 at coordinates:

R.A. = 14 25 04.45, Decl.= -58 45 34.3

(equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

According to VIZIER there is a 15.319 J-magnitude star at 2.6 arcseconds from the transient position (NOMAD1 0312-0489482). 

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

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

UPDATE - January 30, 2018

Apparently, while this object has been confirmed as a nova on spectra taken by T. Bohlsen, no permanent designation by GCVS has been assigned to this transient. See also here & here. 


by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Giovanni Sostero