Comets & Asteroids - Summary for Jan & Feb 2020

During the 2-month period January through February 2020, 9 new comets were discovered and cometary activity was detected for 1 previously discovered object (earlier designated with the prefix A/, see MPEC 2018-H54). "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram) which reported the official news & designations.

(This post has been written during the covid-19 lockdown in Italy. I hope everyone is staying safe out there)

- Comet Discoveries

Jan 06 Discovery of C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)              (CBET 4708)
Jan 08 Discovery of P/2019 Y2 (FULS)                 (CBET 4709)
Jan 09 Discovery of P/2019 Y3 (CATALINA)        (CBET 4711)
Jan 11 Discovery of C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)               (CBET 4712)
Jan 13 Discovery of P/2019 X2 (PANSTARRS)      (CBET 4713)
Jan 15 Discovery of C/2020 A2 (IWAMOTO)         (CBET 4715)
Jan 21 Discovery of C/2020 A3 (ATLAS)                (CBET 4716)
Feb 06 Discovery of C/2020 B2 (LEMMON)          (CBET 4723)
Feb 07 Discovery of C/2020 B3 (RANKIN)            (CBET 4724)

- Cometary activity detected

Feb 05 Cometary activity detected in A/2019 C1 =  C/2019 C1 (ATLAS)  (CBET 4721)*

*The object was given the designation "A/2019 C1" when announced on MPEC 2019-D42, due evidently to its comet-like orbit.

- Other news

Jan 01 On the first evening of 2020, at 18h 26min UT, a -10 fireball was observed and recorded by PRISMA video network over Northern Italy. After careful trajectory analysis and having make the public aware of potential meteorite fall in the region of Cavezzo (Province of Modena), two pieces (55 g) of the fresh meteorite fall were recovered on January 4th.

Credit : PRISMA/FRIPON

Credit : PRISMA

Jan 09 NASA’s Lucy mission team is seeing double after discovering that Eurybates, the asteroid the spacecraft has targeted for flyby in 2027, has a small satellite. This “bonus” science exploration opportunity for the project was discovered using images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 in September 2018, December 2019, and January 2020.

Credit: Lucy/HST

Jan 17 At 2130UTC of 2020-01-17, a #fireball was detected just north of Puerto Rico (5:31pm local time). Satellite image available here #puertorico #meteor #fireball #meteoro #astronomy

Credit: @LouisVtweeter

Jan 23 CBET 4717 & CBET 4722 (Feb 05) report that the following minor planets are binaries systems: (9474) CASSADRURY & (2883) BARABASHOV.

Feb 07 CBET 4725 reports that Arecibo S-band (2380-MHz, 12.6-cm) range-Doppler radar images obtained on 2020 Feb. 4.8417-4.9215 and Feb. 5.8029-5.8611 UT reveal that the potentially hazardous, near-earth minor planet 2020 BX_12 (cf. MPEC 2020-B281) is a binary system. Preliminary measurements of visible range extents in radar images with 7.5 m/pixel resolution suggest a round primary at least 165 m in diameter and a secondary at least 70 m in diameter. 

Credit: Arecibo/NASA/NSF

Feb 12 #IAUnews What will be the impact of the planned mega-constellations of communication satellites on astronomical observations and on the pristine appearance of the night sky? Some preliminary findings. See also this paper by J. C. McDowell (published online on March 16, 2020).

Feb 13 The farthest, most primitive object in the #SolarSystem ever to be visited by a spacecraft—a #KuiperBelt Object known as Arrokoth (2014 #MU69) is described in detail in three new Science reports: https://fcld.ly/r10fbzb  & https://fcld.ly/3gz4pq2 & https://fcld.ly/varrccj  

Feb 15 2020 CD3 is a tiny near-Earth asteroid and temporary satellite of Earth. It was discovered at the Mount Lemmon Observatory by astronomers Theodore Pruyne and Kacper Wierzchoś on 15 February 2020, as part of the Mount Lemmon Survey or Catalina Sky Survey. The asteroid's discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 25 February 2020, after subsequent observations have confirmed that it is orbiting around Earth. It is the second temporary satellite of Earth discovered in situ, after 2006 RH120, which was discovered in 2006. Based on its nominal trajectory, 2020 CD3 was captured by Earth between 2015–2016, and is expected to remain in a geocentric orbit around Earth until May 2020.

Credit: Gemini Observatory

Feb 28 A bright daylight bolide spotted at around 10:30am of February 28, 2020 over north-east of Italy, Croatia and Slovenia.  A piece of this fall was recovered on March 04, 2020 by G. Kos. 

Credit:  Tomislav Čar

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for Nov & Dec 2019

During the 2-month period November through December 2019, 4 new comets were discovered and there was 1 comet recovery. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram) which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

- Cometary activity detected

- Comet Recoveries

- Other news

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for Sept & Oct 2019

During the 2-month period September through October 2019, 9 new comets were discovered, cometary activity was detected for 1 previously discovered object (earlier designated as asteroids) and there were 6 comet recoveries. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram) which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

Sep 10 Discovery of C/2019 Q3 (PANSTARRS)            (CBET 4665)
Sep 12 Discovery of C/2019 Q4 (BORISOV)                 (CBET 4666)
Oct 05 Discovery of P/2019 S2 (PANSTARRS)             (CBET 4673)
Oct 05 Discovery of P/2019 S3 (PANSTARRS)             (CBET 4674)
Oct 16 Discovery of C/2019 T3 (ATLAS)                       (CBET 4678)
Oct 23 Discovery of C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)                       (CBET 4681)
Oct 23 Discovery of C/2019 T5 (ATLAS)                       (CBET 4682)
Oct 24 Discovery of P/2019 T6 (PANSTARRS)             (CBET 4684)
Oct 28 Discovery of P/2019 U4 (PANSTARRS)             (CBET 4688)

- Cometary activity detected

Oct 06 Cometary activity detected in 2018 DO4 =  C/2018 DO_4 (LEMMON)  (CBET 4675)

- Comet Recoveries

Sep 08 Recovery of P/2007 T4 (GIBBS) as P/2019 R2                   (CBET 4662)
Sep 09 Recovery of P/2008 Y1 (BOATTINI) as P/2019 R1            (CBET 4663)
Sep 27 Recovery of P/2006 R1 (SIDING SPRING) as P/2019 S1  (CBET 4671)
Oct 25 Recovery of P/2006 W1 (GIBBS) as P/2019 U1                 (CBET 4685)
Oct 28 Recovery of P/2006 F1 (KOWALSKI) as P/2019 U2          (CBET 4686)
Oct 28 Recovery of P/2004 WR_9 (LINEAR) as P/2019 U3          (CBET 4687)

- Other news

Sep 04 New paper on Arxiv by D. Jewitt & J. Luu: "Disintegrating In-Bound Long-Period Comet C/2019 J2".

Credit: Jewitt & Luu

Sep 16 Analysis of a bright flash in Jupiter’s atmosphere observed by an amateur astronomer in August 2019 has revealed that the likely cause was a small asteroid with a density typical of stony-iron meteors. The impact is estimated to have released energy equivalent to an explosion of 240 kilotons of TNT – around half the energy released in the 2013 Chelyabinsk event at Earth.

Credit: E. Chappel/R. Hueso

Oct 07 Saturn Surpasses Jupiter After The Discovery Of 20 New Moons. A team led by Carnegie's Scott S. Sheppard has found 20 new moons orbiting Saturn.  This brings the ringed planet’s total number of moons to 82, surpassing Jupiter, which has 79. 

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute/Sartorio/Shutterstock

Oct 08 The 2019 #NobelPrize in Physics has been awarded with one half to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and the other half jointly to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star”.

Credit: Mayor & Queloz

Oct 28 Beautiful images from VLT/SPHERE of the fourth biggest asteroid, Hygiea, found a big surprise: an almost spherical shape. It was hit in the past by a big impact which shattered and reassembled it while still fluid.

Credit: Vernazza et al.

by Ernesto Guido

Comet Images from the Dark Sky Of Chile

Below you can find a selection of some of the comets we imaged in the last few days using remotely a Planewave Telescope CDK24 a 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD located in the El Sauce Observatory in Chile. The telescope is owned by "TELESCOPE LIVE" network and we would like to thank them for allowing us to use their telescope for these images free of charge. Click on each image for a bigger version.

68P/Klemola  - 2019, September 27

29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann -  2019, September 27

101P/Chernykh - 2019, September 30

C/2017 U7 - 2019, September 30

C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) - 2019, October 06

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for July & August 2019

During the 2-month period July through August 2019, 7 new comets were discovered and there were 4 comet recoveries. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

Jul 01 Discovery of C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4644)
Jul 02 Discovery of C/2019 K7 (SMITH)                  (CBET 4645)
Jul 02 Discovery of C/2019 K8 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4646)
Jul 03 Discovery of C/2019 LB_7 (KLEYNA)           (CBET 4647)*
Jul 15 Discovery of C/2019 N1 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4650)
Jul 17 Discovery of P/2019 M2 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4651)**
Jul 18 Discovery of C/2019 M3 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4653)

*The available astrometry for this very faint object was published on MPEC 2019-N20, where it was inadvertently given the minor-planet designation 2019 LB_7 by the Minor Planet Center.

**Following a private remark by the D. Green that the orbital elements of comets D/1884 O1 (Barnard) and P/2019 M2 are similar, Nakano has attempted an investigation into the possibility that the two designations might refer to the same comet. Nakano remarks that he is unable to link the two orbits, suggesting that (while possibly related) the two comets seem to be different objects. Additional astrometry for P/2019 M2 is urgently needed to extend the arc of observations at this return, before the comet fades rapidly in the coming weeks.(CBET 4657)

- Comet Recoveries

Jul 06 Recovery of P/2006 S1 (CHRISTENSEN) as P/2019 M1     (CBET 4649)
Jul 17 Recovery of 39P/OTERMA                                                   (CBET 4652)*
Jul 28 Recovery of P/2014 U2 (KOWALSKI) as P/2019 O1          (CBET 4654)
Aug 09 Recovery of P/2010 U2 (HILL) as P/2019 P1                    (CBET 4658)

*Recovery of comet 39P/Oterma (magnitude 24) on CCD images taken on July 3 UT with the 8.1-m "Gemini South" telescope, with confirmatory follow-up images being obtained on July 5 using both the 8.1-m "Gemini South" and the 6.5-m Magellan-Clay telescopes.  A point-source object was located within 1" of an ephemeris generated by the orbit given on MPC 75716.An upper bound of the nucleus radius -- based on photometry of the July 3 and 5 individual 100-s r' images and assuming a 4-percent albedo -- is between 2.1 and 2.5 km.  This upper bound is lower than what would be derived from 2001 photometry reported on MPCs 43260 and 43446 (2.5-3.5 km), suggesting that there might have been a compact coma in those observations and/or that 39P has an elongated nucleus.The comet was last seen in 2001 (cf. IAUC 7689). Comet 39P is currently inbound with perihelion in 2023. The comet was missed at its 1983 return.

- Other news

Jul 08 Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) spotted an unusual asteroid with the shortest "year" known for any asteroid. The rocky body, dubbed 2019 LF6, is about a kilometer in size and circles the sun roughly every 151 days. In its orbit, the asteroid swings out beyond Venus and, at times, comes closer in than Mercury, which circles the sun every 88 days. 2019 LF6 is one of only 20 known "Atira" asteroids, whose orbits fall entirely within Earth's. In the images below you can see an animation showing the asteroid as captured by ZTF on June 10 and how the orbit of 2019 LF6 (white) falls entirely within the orbit of Earth (blue).

Credit: ZTF/Caltech Optical Observatories

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Jul 12 ATel #12931 Disintegration of Comet C/2019 J2 (Palomar) - Quanzhi Ye et al. report the apparent disintegration of comet C/2019 J2 (Palomar), first detected by Soulier and Sárneczky on images taken on UT 2019 July 6-7. After receiving the reports from Soulier and Sárneczky, Ye examined the images taken with the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) operated on the 1.2-m Oschin Schmidt telescope at Palomar Observatory. The ZTF image on July 9 shows that the comet has lost its central condensation. Although the disintegration only becomes apparent at some time between the ZTF observation on July 2 and the Maisoncelles/Konkoly observation on July 6, ZTF photometry suggests that the process likely started much earlier, possibly in early May. The brightness of the comet increased by ~0.6 mag from Apr. 27 to May 9, then decreased by an equal amount from May 9 to Jul. 2, while a typical comet would have brightened by 1.0 mag from Apr. 27 to Jul. 2.

Jul 29 Austrian filmmaker Christian Stangl combined some of the more than 400,000 images taken by @ESA's Rosetta mission into a stunning short film: "the Comet". Together the images show details of Comet 67P, which Rosetta followed and researched for 2 years.

Aug 07 On July 24, asteroid 2019 OK (60-130 meters in size; discovered by SONEAR team @CrisJacques)  approached Earth at about 65,000 km above the surface, one fifth the distance to the Moon. Largest Asteroid To Pass This Close To Earth in a Century

Credits: P. Chodas (NASA/JPL)

Aug 08 A possible impact on Jupiter recorded on 07 August 2019 at 04:07 UTC by E. Chappel. This is not the first time that we have seen something slam into Jupiter. It's actually the seventh event of its kind in recent years. More info about past recent events are available here

Credits: E. Chappel

Credits: E. Chappel

Aug 17 Fireball over Sardinia, Italy on the evening of August 16, 2019 via @ClaudioPorcu - More video available here  #meteor #meteora #astronomy #astronomia #Sardegna

Credits: C. Porcu

Below you can see a map showing the trajectory in the atmosphere projected to the ground of this bolide. The triangulation was done using 6 visual observations selected among the more than 80 arrived at the IMO.

(Credits: A. Carbognani)

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for May & June 2019

During the 2-month period May through June 2019, 11 new comets were discovered and there were 2 comet recoveries. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

May 04 Discovery of C/2019 H1 (NEOWISE)                  (CBET 4623)

May 12 Discovery of C/2019 J1 (LEMMON)                   (CBET 4625)

May 13 Discovery of C/2019 J2 (PALOMAR)                  (CBET 4626)

May 23 Discovery of C/2019 K1 (ATLAS)                    (CBET 4629)

May 23 Discovery of C/2019 J3 (ATLAS)                    (CBET 4630)

May 24 Discovery of C/2019 JU_6 (ATLAS)                  (CBET 4631)*

Jun 24 Discovery of C/2019 K4 (YE)                       (CBET 4636)

Jun 28 Discovery of C/2019 K5 (YOUNG)                    (CBET 4637)

Jun 28 Discovery of C/2019 L1 (PANSTARRS)                (CBET 4640)

Jun 28 Discovery of C/2019 L2 (NEOWISE)                  (CBET 4641)

Jun 30 Discovery of C/2019 K1 (ATLAS)                    (CBET 4643)

* Apparently asteroidal object that was discovered on CCD images obtained on 2019 May 12.5 with a 0.5-m reflector at Haleakala in the course of the "Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System" (ATLAS) search program), and given the minor-planet designation 2019 JU_6 by the Minor Planet Center (cf. MPS 996641; orbit on MPEC 2019-J141 from a two-day arc), has been found to show cometary appearance by CCD astrometrists elsewhere.

- Comet Recoveries

Jun 03 Recovery of P/2000 S4 (LINEAR-SPACEWATCH) as P/2019 K2     (CBET 4633)

Jun 04 Recovery of P/2007 R1 (LARSON)            as P/2019 K3     (CBET 4635)

- Other news

May 01 Miklós Lovas, most successful Hungarian discoverer, has passed away at the age of 88 years on April 18th. He discovered 42 supernovae, 5 comets (including 93P & 184P) and 2 unusual minor planets at the Konkoly Obs. between 1964 and 1995 via K. Sárneczky

May 10 (CBET 4624) OUTBURST OF 15-BOOTIDS METEOR SHOWER - P. Jenniskens, SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center, and E. Lyytinen, Finland, report activity of the 15-Bootid meteors (IAU shower 923, code FBO) between 2019 Apr. 21d22h01m and 22d00h13m UTC, corresponding to solar longitude 31.24-31.34 degrees (equinox J2000.0). Six 15-Bootids were detected between 22h01m and 00h12m UTC by the low-light video cameras of the CAMS BeNeLux network (coordinated by C. Johannink) during routine observations that were made during 19h50m-03h15m UTC that night. The orbital elements bear some resemblance to those of the bright comet C/539 W1 (parabolic orbital elements q = 0.16 +/- 0.15 AU, i = 19 +/- 6 deg, Argument of Perihelion = 246 +/- 40 deg, Node = 33 +/- 20 deg; cf. Hasegawa 1979, PASJ 31, 257).  The broad 2-hr duration of the shower, presumably requiring somewhat higher ejection velocities, is consistent with a relatively large comet.

May 17 (CBET 4627) NEW SATELLITE AROUND (31) EUPHROSYNE - P. Vernazza, B. Carry, F. Vachier, J. Hanus, J. Berthier, B. Yang, F. Marchis and the HARISSA team report the discovery of a satellite around minor planet (31) Euphrosyne.  They observed (31) Euphrosyne with the Very Large Telescope (+ SPHERE/ZIMPOL) at six different epochs between 2019 Mar. 15 and Apr. 10.  On Mar. 15.301 UT, the satellite was at a separation of 0".398 arcsec (projected separation 651 km) in p.a. 268.49 degrees; on Apr. 10.109, the satellite was found at a separation of 0".384 in p.a. 87.0 degrees. Based on these detections, the mean magnitude difference through an N_R filter (central wavelength 645.9 nm; bandwidth 56.7 nm) between (31) and its companion is 8.0 +/- 0.8, implying a diameter of about 6 km.  Preliminary orbit computation indicates an orbital period of about 1.2 days for the satellite, with a semi-major axis of 677 km.

May 17 CBET 4628, CBET 4632 (May 29), CBET 4634 (Jun 03) report that the following minor planets are binaries systems: (2873) BINZEL, (72036) 2000 XM44 & (1344) CAUBETA

May 23 "From Centaurs to comets - 40 years" - Review chapter to be published in the book "The Transneptunian Solar System" #astronomy #comets #centaurs

Credit: Peixinho et al.

Jun 04 The #VLT instrument #SPHERE observed the double asteroid (66391) 1999 KW4 as it flew by Earth on 25 May #astronomy #asteroids

Credit: ESO

Jun 06 HiPOD: A new impact crater on Mars, formed between Sept 2016 and Feb 2019. What makes this stand out is the darker material exposed beneath the reddish dust.

: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Jun 19 ‘Comet Interceptor’ has been selected as ESA’s new fast-class mission in its Cosmic Vision Programme. Comprising three spacecraft, it will be the first to visit a truly pristine comet or other interstellar object that is only just starting its journey into the inner Solar System.

Jun 28 (CBET 4638) 2019 MO - An 18th-magnitude fast-moving asteroidal object, detected on June 22.3 and 22.4 UT with the Pan-STARRS2 1.8-m Ritchey-Chretien reflector at Haleakala and the ATLAS 0.5-m reflector at Mauna Loa and designated 2019 MO by the Minor Planet Center on MPEC 2019-M72 (which contains astrometry and orbital elements), impacted the earth's atmosphere around June 22.896 UT.  It was evidently detected in daylight satellite imagery over the Caribbean Sea. The absolute magnitude of 29.3 suggests a size prior to entry on the order of 3-4 meters. This is fourth known object to hit the earth's atmosphere after detection in space prior to impact (cf. CBET 4519).

Jun 29 (CBET 4642) JUNE EPSILON OPHIUCHID METEORS - P. Jenniskens, SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center, reports unusual activity of the June epsilon Ophiuchids shower (IAU shower 459, code JEO) between 2019 June 19d08h and 26d05h UTC, corresponding to the solar longitude range 87.5-94.1 degrees, with most activity between solar longitude 89.3 and 93.3 degrees, centered on 92.11 degrees (equinox J2000.0).  Eighty-eight June epsilon Ophiuchids were detected by CAMS camera network on June 19-26. The orbital elements resemble those of the Jupiter-family comet 300P/Catalina (q = 0.826 AU, a = 2.695 AU, i = 5.69 degrees, Peri. = 222.75 degrees, Node = 95.81 degrees, and longitude of perihelion 318.56 degrees. The outburst confirms the existence of this otherwise minor shower (cf. Rudawska and Jenniskens 2014, Meteoroids 2013, p. 217) and offers evidence of past activity of its parent body.

Bright June epsilon Ophiuchid shower meteor captured on 2019, June 24

Credit: Rancho Mirage Observatory (Eric McLaughlin)

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for March & April 2019

During the 2-month period March through April 2019, 6 new comets were discovered and there were 3 comet recoveries. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

Mar 21 Discovery of C/2019 D1 (FLEWELLING)                  (CBET 4614)

Mar 21 Discovery of C/2019 E3 (ATLAS)                                (CBET 4615)

Apr 10 Discovery of P/2019 G1 = P/2011 O2 (PANSTARRS) (CBET 4618)* 

Apr 10 Discovery of C/2019 F1 (ATLAS-AFRICANO)           (CBET 4619) 

Apr 22 Discovery of C/2019 F2 (ATLAS)                                (CBET 4620) 

Apr 23 Discovery of P/2019 GG_21 (PANSTARRS)               (CBET 4621)** 

* G. V. Williams, Minor Planet Center, then identified additional pre-discovery (apparently stellar) observations obtained at Kitt Peak by T. H. Bressi with the 1.8-m Spacewatch II on 2009 Feb. 26 and at the XuYi Station of  Purple Mountain Observatory with a 1.04-m Schmidt telescope on 2009 Mar. 25.

**  Initially designated as minor planet 2019 GG21, there was one prior report of cometary activity in this object. R. Weryk and R. Wainscoat (F51, Apr. 4) reported a ~1".9 FWHM ("seemingly" larger than the 1".4 +/- 0".2 FWHM of nearby stars) and a slight asymmetry to the northwest.  No other credible cometary reports were received.  A  report received today of a "new comet" (remarking that 2019 GG21 was predicted to be "nearby") from S. Sheppard  (807,Apr. 4 and 5) noted that the object had a 21" tail in P.A. 310.  The object is therefore being redesignated P/2019 GG21.

- Comet Recoveries

Mar 10 Recovery of P/2003 L1 (SCOTTI) as P/2019 E1     (CBET 4612)

Mar 18 Recovery of P/2005 Y2 (McNAUGHT) as P/2019 E2   (CBET 4613)

Apr 03 Recovery of P/2006 F4 (SPACEWATCH) as P/2019 D2 (CBET 4616)

- Other news

Mar 06 Image sequence captured by CAM-H during the touchdown of @haya2e_jaxa @haya2_jaxa spacecraft with  asteroid (162173) Ryugu last month. Also on youtube http://bit.ly/2VFTpfy  #astronomy #asteroids #ryugu

Credits: JAXA

Mar 12 New paper on Arxiv by D. Seligman, G. Laughlin & K. Batygin: "Implications of the Small Spin Changes Measured for Large Jupiter-Family Comet Nuclei". Long-form blog post up on http://oklo.org/2019/03/12/on-oumuamua/

Mar 19 OSIRIS-REx caught asteroid Bennu ejecting particles from its surface. NavCam 1 imager captured the first-ever close-up observations of material being released from an “active asteroid.” 

Credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

Mar 27 The gigantic 170 ft (52 m) boulder on asteroid Bennu #Bennu #OSIRISREx #Asteroid via Roman Tkachenko

Credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

Mar 28 Active asteroid (6478) Gault imaged by Hubble Space Telescope. Images from Hubble show two narrow, comet-like tails of dusty debris streaming from the asteroid (6478) Gault. Each tail represents an episode in which the asteroid gently shed its material.

Credits: NASA, ESA, Meech & Kleyna (University of Hawaii) and Hainaut (ESO)

Apr 05 The Hayabusa2 deployable camera, DCAM3, successfully photographed the ejector from when the SCI  (Small Carry-on Impactor） collided with Ryugu’s surface: "This is the world’s first collision experiment with an asteroid! In the future, we will examine the crater formed and how the ejector dispersed".  (see image below. Image credits: JAXA, Kobe University, Chiba Institute of Technology, The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kochi University, Aichi Toho University, The University of Aizu, and Tokyo University of Science)

UPDATE Apr 25 Crater formation where the Small Carry-on Impactor collided with Ryugu has been confirmed! These images compare the surface before and after the SCI collision.

Credit: Hayabusa2 JAXA

Apr 05 (CBET 4617) P. Jenniskens, SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center; and J. W. Baggaley, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, report that an outburst of delta Pavonid meteors (IAU shower 120; code DPA) has been detected by the CAMS New Zealand stations operated by P. Aldous (Geraldine) and I. Crumpton (West Melton).The parent comet is presumed to be C/1907 G1 (Grigg-Mellish), which was poorly observed in 1907, with parabolic orbital elements q = 0.924 AU, i = 110.06 deg, Peri. = 328.76 deg, and Node = 190.417 deg (equinox 2000.0) -- in good agreement when allowing for the motion of the node due to planetary perturbations.

Credits: NASA Meteor Shower Portal; CAMS SETI

Apr 15 New paper on Arxiv by D. Jewitt et al.: "Episodically Active Asteroid 6478 Gault".

Credit: Jewitt et al.

Apr 23 New paper on Arxiv by Chandler et al.: "Six Years of Sustained Activity from Active Asteroid (6478) Gault".

Credits: Chandler et al.

Apr 24 Three months of surface temperature maps of #67P nucleus from Rosetta suggest that only the upper layers are affected by temporal effects, keeping the immediate interior pristine.

Credits: F. Tosi et al - Nature Astronomy 2019

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for Jan & Feb 2019

During the 2-month period January through February 2019, 14 new comets were discovered. Moreover inner main-belt minor planet (6478) GAULT developed a lengthening tail or trail. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

- Comet Discoveries

Jan 02 Discovery of P/2018 Y2 (AFRICANO)      (CBET 4590)
Jan 07 Discovery of P/2019 A1 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4591)
Jan 08 Discovery of P/2019 A2 (ATLAS)            (CBET 4595)
Jan 10 Discovery of P/2019 A3 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4598)
Jan 17 Discovery of P/2019 A4 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4600)
Jan 17 Discovery of C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4601)
Jan 17 Discovery of P/2019 A6 (LEMMON-PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4602)
Jan 23 Discovery of C/2019 B1 (AFRICANO)    (CBET 4604)
Jan 23 Discovery of P/2019 A7 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4605)
Feb 04 Discovery of P/2018 V5 (TRUJILLO-SHEPPARD)   (CBET 4607)*
Feb 04 Discovery of P/2019 A8 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4608)
Feb 04 Discovery of P/2019 B2 (GROELLER)    (CBET 4609)
Feb 07 Discovery of C/2019 A9 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4610)
Feb 27 Discovery of C/2019 B3 (PANSTARRS)   (CBET 4611)

* S. Sheppard reported that this object showed a ~9" tail in P.A. 276 on 2018 Nov. 7 and a 19" tail in P.A. 277 on 2019 Jan. 8.  The comet was detected by C. Trujillo on images taken by Sheppard.  R. Weryk reported prediscovery images that showed the object with a  1".3 FWHM (compared to 1".10 +/- 0".05 for nearby stars) on 2017 Oct. 28.

- Other news

Jan 07 CBET 4592, CBET 4593 (Jan 08), CBET 4596 (Jan 09), CBET 4599 (Jan 16) report that the following minor planets are binaries systems: (2337) BOUBIN, 2016 AZ_8, (7393) LUGINBUHL & (2070) HUMASON

 

Jan 08 CBET 4594 (issued on 2019, January 08) announces the serendipitous discovery by the "Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System" (ATLAS) team of unusual activity associated with the inner main-belt minor planet (6478) which appears to have developed a lengthening tail or trail. 

by Ernesto Guido

Comets & Asteroids - Summary for Nov & Dec 2018

During the 2-month period November through December 2018, 10 new comets were discovered, cometary activity was detected for 1 previously discovered object (earlier designated as asteroids) and there was 1 comet recovery. Moreover an apparently asteroidal object with nearly-parabolic orbital elements was discovered. No cometary activity has yet been confirmed, but it has been given a cometary style A/ designation. "Current comet magnitudes" & "Daily updated asteroid flybys" pages are available at the top of this blog (or just click on the underline text here). See below for the "Other news" section.

The dates below refer to the date of issuance of CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram)  which reported the official news & designations.

 - Comet Discoveries

Nov 08 Discovery of C/2018 V1 (MACHHOLZ-FUJIKAWA-IWAMOTO)     (CBET 4569 & 4572)
Nov 18 Discovery of P/2018 VN_2 (LEONARD)            (CBET 4573)*
Nov 20 Discovery of C/2018 U1 (LEMMON)                 (CBET 4574)
Dec 01 Discovery of C/2018 V2 (ATLAS)                       (CBET 4578)
Dec 01 Discovery of C/2018 V4 (AFRICANO)               (CBET 4579)
Dec 03 Discovery of C/2018 W1 (CATALINA)               (CBET 4580 & 4582)**
Dec 03 Discovery of C/2018 W2 (AFRICANO)              (CBET 4580)***
Dec 16 Discovery of C/2018 X2 (FITZSIMMONS)        (CBET 4583)
Dec 17 Discovery of C/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS)             (CBET 4584)
Dec 20 Discovery of C/2018 Y1 (IWAMOTO)                (CBET 4588)

* MPC inadvertently assigned it the minor-planet designation 2018 VN_2 by mistake.

** No cometary activity was detected at discovery, but it was given a cometary style A/ designation. On December 16, CBET 4582 reported that a faint coma had been detected in images taken with the CFHT at Mauna Kea on December 8.

*** Nearly simultaneous independent discoveries of a comet were reported on Nov. 27 via CCD images taken by H. Groeller (with the Catalina Sky Survey 0.68-m Schmidt telescope) and by B. M. Africano (with the Mount Lemmon 1.5-m reflector). G. V. Williams notes that Africano reported the object first, and that the object was posted on the Minor Planet Center's NEOCP webpage before Groeller's report arrived.  The Central Bureau received Africano's report at around Nov. 27.55 UT, or 21 minutes before Groeller's report was received.

- Cometary activity detected

Nov 29 Cometary activity detected in 2017 TW_13 =  P/2017 TW_13 (LEMMON)  (CBET 4576)

- Comet Recoveries

Dec 06  Recovery of P/2005 GF_8 (LONEOS) as C/2018 X1 (CBET 4581)

According to CBET 4579 (Dec. 01, 2018), an apparently asteroidal object designated A/2018 V3 with nearly-parabolic orbital elements (T = 2019 Sept. 8.66 TT, e = 0.990, q = 1.34 AU; at mag 21 and about 4 AU from the sun) was discovered. No cometary activity has yet been confirmed, but it has been given a cometary style A/ designation.

NEW NUMBERINGS OF SHORT-PERIOD COMETS (CBET 4589)

Further to CBET 4442, the following permanent numbers have been assigned to short-period comets based upon their being securely observed at multiple returns to perihelion.
                                                      
Designation/Name         Provisional Designations                Reference
363P/Lemmon               P/2011 VJ_5 = P/2017 W1               CBET 4455
364P/PANSTARRS        P/2013 CU_129 = P/2018 A2           CBET 4475
365P/PANSTARRS        P/2011 WG_113 = P/2017 U6          CBET 4490
366P/Spacewatch          P/2005 JN = P/2018 F2                    CBET 4497
367P/Catalina                P/2011 CR_42 = P/2018 H1             CBET 4510

368P/NEAT                   P/2005 R1 = P/2018 L3                      CBET 4526
369P/Hill                       P/2010 A1 = P/2018 P1                      CBET 4538
370P/NEAT                   P/2001 T3 = P/2018 P2                      CBET 4539
371P/LINEAR-Skiff         P/2001 R6 = P/2018 R1                      CBET 4552
372P/McNaught             P/2008 O2 = P/2018 P6                      CBET 4554

373P/Rinner                  P/2011 W2 = P/2018 R2                     CBET 4555
374P/Larson                  P/2007 V1 = P/2018 S1                      CBET 4558
375P/Hill                       P/2006 D1 = P/2018 T1                     CBET 4560


- Other news
 

Nov 08 CBET 4570, CBET 4575 (Nov 27), CBET 4586 (Nov 18) report that the following minor planets are binaries systems: (20882) 2000 VH57 & (6245) IKUFUMI & (250162) 2002 TY_57

Nov 20 On this day, 5 years ago: "Asteroids named after Thomas Pynchon & Stabia"  #astronomy #pynchon #stabia #asteroids

Dec 03 Dec 03 NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft completed its 2 billion-kilometer journey to arrive at the asteroid Bennu Monday. The spacecraft executed a maneuver that transitioned it from flying toward (101955) Bennu to operating around the asteroid. This series of images below, taken by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, shows Bennu in one full rotation from a distance of around 580 km. The spacecraft’s PolyCam camera obtained the 36 2.2-millisecond frames over a period of four hours and 18 minutes.

Credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Dec 17 Comet 46P/Wirtanen imaged by E. Guido on 2018-12-17 at 11:45:26UT remotely from Bathurst Observatory Australia (MPC Q67). Single 20-second frame by 0.28-m f/2.2 reflector + CCD (ZWO 1600 Color) #astronomy #comets

Dec 18 Discovery by Sheppard, Tholen & Trujillo of new Solar System object 2018 VG18 ( nicknamed “Farout”) around 120 AU, making it the first Solar System object observed beyond 100 AU http://bit.ly/2S2thtI  & http://bit.ly/2S2thKe  #astronomy

Credits:  R. Molar Candanosa, S. Sheppard, Carnegie Institution for Science

Dec 20 Comet 46P/Wirtanen imaged on Dec. 13, 2018 by @NASAHubble space telescope https://go.nasa.gov/2QGAjIb  #astronomy #comets #Comet46pwirtanen #CometWirtanen

Credits: NASA, ESA, D. Bodewits and J.-Y. Li

Dec 21 Comet 46P/Wirtanen observed on Dec. 15, 2018 by astronomers at @AreciboRadar @NAICobservatory. The new radar observations provided the first definitive measurements of 46P/Wirtanen’s diameter, which is approximately 1.4 km (0.9 miles). http://bit.ly/2A9n48q  #astronomy #comets

Credits: Arecibo Observatory, NASA, NSF

Dec 26 Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2003 SD220 obtained on Dec. 15-17 #astronomy #asteroids

Credits: NASA/Arecibo/USRA/UCF/GBO/NSF

by Ernesto Guido