CBET 4746 & MPEC 2020-G73, issued on 2020, April 08, announce the discovery of a comet (magnitude ~15.8) in images taken with the "Mobile Astronomical System of the Telescope-Robots" (MASTER) auto-detection system (0.40-m f/2.5 reflector) near San Juan, Argentina. Additional pre-discovery observations from Mar. 17.0 UT (mag 15.8-15.9), Mar. 22.0 (mag 15.8), and Mar. 23.0 (mag 15.7-15.8) were found on images taken with the MASTER 0.40-m reflector at the South African Astronomical Observatory (Sutherland). The new comet has been designated C/2020 F5 (MASTER).
We performed follow-up measurements of this object while it was still on the PCCP webpage.
Stacking of 22 unfiltered exposures, 60 seconds each, obtained remotely on 2020, April 05.7 from Q62 (iTelescope network) through a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD, shows that this object is a comet with a compact coma about 10" in diameter and a tail 30" long in PA 290.
Our confirmation image (click on it for a bigger version)
MPEC 2020-G73, assigns the following preliminary parabolic orbital elements to comet C/2020 F5: T 2021 Mar 22.93; e= 1.0; Peri. = 310.76; q = 4.33; Incl.= 51.70
by Ernesto Guido & Adriano Valvasori
I have been following this comet since its discovery, and I have not detected it for a few days with my CCD telescope.
ReplyDeleteMy limit magnitude is 18.
Do you have recent observations?
My last image is from May 22.
Thank you
Atte, Adrián Arquiola,
Observatorio Astronómico Municipal de Funes
ARGENTINA
Hi Adrián, sorry for the late answer. Unfortunately, I haven't observed this comet recently. I checked on the COBS website and there are two observations, one dated 22 April 2020 (magnitude ~15.4) and one dated 6 June 2020 (magnitude ~16.0). Another observation is on Seiichi Yoshida's website ans it is dated May 22, 2020 (magnitude ~15.3). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCiao,
Ernesto Guido