Recovery of comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup

MPEC 2012-Y30, issued 2012 December 26, reports our recovery of comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup. We found the comet on 2012 December 05.6 and December 14.5 at about magnitude 20. We imaged it remotely with the 2.0-m f/10 from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South.

This comet is named after the singing teacher and amateur astronomer John Grigg and after J. Frank Skjellerup, an Australian telegraphist working at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. On July 10, 1992, comet 26P was visited by Giotto spacecraft after its successful close encounter with comet Halley. The Giotto camera has been damaged in the Halley flyby and there are no pictures of the nucleus. In 1972 the comet was discovered to produce a meteor shower (first predicted by Harold Ridley), the Pi Puppids, and its current orbit makes them peak around April 23, for observers in the southern hemisphere, best seen when the comet is near perihelion. 

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

While below you can see an animation showing the movement of the comet (7 frames x 30 seconds each). North is up, East is to the left (click on the thumbnail below for a bigger version):

Comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup was last observed (before our recovery) on August 09, 2008 by mpc code 204 (Schiaparelli Observatory). While there is also a single night observation by F51 – Pan-STARRS 1,  Haleakala dated November 25, 2011, a comet recovery requires 2 nights of observations, "as it is not possible to unambiguously identify a comet by  position and rate alone without a second night of data to verify the orbit." (Hainaut et al. A&A 1997).

by Nick Howes & Ernesto Guido

Recovery of comet P/1994 X1

Cbet Circular No. 3132, issued on 2012, May 31, announces the recovery of comet P/1994 X1 = 2012 K7 (McNaught-Russell) by our team; this comet was discovered on 1994, December 12 with the UK Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring observatory and it was last observed on 1995, April 17.

On 2012, May 29 we started an observing session to recover the periodic comet P/1994 X1. We found an object of magnitude ~19.5 located ~35 arcsec south-west  of the nominal position, along the line of variations (LOV). Stacking of 7 R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2012, May 29.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0  Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, under good seeing conditions, shows that comet P/1994 X1 appears slightly diffuse, with a tiny coma about 3" in diameter, having a total m1 magnitude measured through a Bessel-R filter of about 19.5.

Second night follow-up observations, has been obtained on 2012, May 30.4, under the code H06. Stacking of 8 unfiltered exposures, 180-sec each, obtained on  2012, May 30.4 remotely from the ITelescope network near Mayhill, NM, through a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer, shows that this comet has a nearly stellar appearance.

Below you can find our recovery image of 2012, May 29.6 (click on the image for a bigger version)

Below you can find the recovery image of 2012, May 30.4 (click on the image for a bigger version)

While below you can see a small animation showing the movement of this faint comet on May 30.4 (click on the thumbnail to see the animation):

The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 79019 is Delta(T) = +0.024 day. The linked orbital elements and an ephemeris by G. V. Williams appear on MPEC 2012-K75.


by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes, Erik Bryssinck & Ernesto Guido

Recovery of comet P/2005 N3 (LARSON)

Cbet Circular No. 3123, issued on 2012, May 25, announces the recovery of comet P/2005 N3 (LARSON) =  2012 K4 (Larson) by our team; this comet was discovered on 2005, July 5.38 by S. Larson on CCD images taken in the course of the Mt. Lemmon Survey and it was last observed on 2005, December 02.

On 2012, May 22.6 we started an observing session to recover the periodic comet P/2005 N3. We found an object of magnitude ~20.4 located ~4 arcmin north-east of the nominal position. On May 25.6 we have been able to obtain a second night of observations.

Stacking of, respectively, seven and thirteen R-filtered exposures, 60-seconds each obtained remotely from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on 2012, May 22.6 and 25.6, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that comet P/2005 N3 (LARSON) has a ill-defined central condensation of R magnitude about 20.3, surrounded by a weak coma 5" in diameter, and a faint and broad tail, nearly 8" long toward the south-west.

                                  

Below you can find our recovery image of 2012, May 25.6 (click on the image for a bigger version)

The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 75290 is Delta(T) = -0.26 day.  The linked orbital elements and an ephemeris by G. V. Williams appear on MPEC 2012-K54.

by Giovanni Sostero, Nick Howes & Ernesto Guido

Recovery of comet P/2005 JY126 (Catalina)

Cbet Circular No. 3065, issued on 2012, March 22, announces the recovery of comet P/2005 JY126 =  P/2012 F4 (CATALINA) by our team; this comet was discovered on 2005, June 7.32 by Catalina Sky Survey and it was last observed on 2007, January 13.

On 2012, March 21.6 we started an observing session to recover the periodic comet P/2005 JY126. We found an object of magnitude ~19.6 located 8.5 arcsec west of the nominal position. Stacking of three R-filtered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring Faulkes Telescope South through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, under good seeing conditions,shows that this object appears slightly "soft" compared to the nearby field stars of similar brightness.

On 2012, March 22.4 we have been able to obtain a second night of observations by stacking of 29 R-filtered exposures, 120-sec each, obtained remotely, from the iTelescope network (near Mayhill, NM) through a 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector + CCD. 

Below you can find our recovery image of 2012, March 21.6. The red square shows the nominal position, while the circle shows where we actually found the comet.

The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 69904 is Delta(T) = +0.01 day. The linked orbital elements by G. V. Williams, from 246 observations spanning 2005 Apr. 17-2012 Mar. 22 (mean residual 0".6), and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2012-F54

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Alison Tripp

Recovery of comet 171P/Spahr

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

Recovery of Comet 164P/Christensen

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):

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

Recovery of Comet 123P/West-Hartley

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

Recovery of comet P/2002 S1 = P/2009 L18 (SKIFF)

CBET nr.1913, issued on 2009, Aug. 18, announces our recovery of P/2002 S1 = P/2009 L18 (SKIFF). Our quest for this faint (magnitude about 20 at the time of recovery) periodic comet, started about two months ago, when we had several attempts to locate it in the southern costellation of Indus, by means of the remotely-controlled Skylive-Grove Creek main telescope (a 0.35-m, reflector + CCD located near Trunkey, NSW, Australia).

Finally we found it on 2009, June 15.6, about 1.7 arcmin northeast of the ephemerids position, and nearly 1.3 magnitudes fainter than predicted.

We performed a second night of follow-up on Jun. 17.6, however at that time the comet was projected over a field star, so we couldn't find it. Afterwards we had a row of bad weather, moonlight interference, personal problems, ect, that prevented us to perform a second night of astrometry, until Aug. 18.6, when we successfully imaged again P/2002 S1 through the same instrumentation. At that time the comet was about 1.8 arcmin northeast of ephemerids, nearly 1.5 magnitudes than predicted. On both observing runs, we found the comet of starlike aspect, without any appreciable coma and/or tail.

Our last image of this comet is available here:

According to CBET nr.1913, this object will reach its perihelion (q~ 2.4 AU) on 2010, Aug. 15. The ephemerids generated at the Minor Planet Center website inform us that P/2009 L18 (SKIFF) will reach its maximum brightness at perigee, on the beginning of next November 2010 (about magnitude 17). Its last astrometric report before our recovery was performed on 2003 Apr. 07.89 by Peter Birtwhistle, from the Great Shefford Observatory (MPC#J95).

Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido, Paul Camilleri and Enrico Prosperi

Recovery of 107P/Wilson-Harrington = (4015) Wilson-Harrington

MPECs 2009-K24 & 2009-K27, issued on 2009 May 21 & 22, reports our recovery of comet 107P/Wilson-Harrington, obtained over three consecutive nights: on 2009, May 19 and 20 from Mayhill (NM) through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD (details on image):

and on 2009, May 21, by means of the 0.61-m f/10 reflector + CCD of the Sierra Stars Observatory, Markleeville (CA).

This object has an interesting story, since its cometary nature (a tail without coma) has been reported only once, at the time of its discovery, so its activity appears to be rather irregular:

http://cometography.com/pcomets/107p.html
http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0107P/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/107P/Wilson-Harrington

Also in our current stackings, the object appears perfectly stellar, with no trace of any coma or tail. Comet107P/Wilson-Harrington was last observed on 2007, March 13 by the Mt. Lemmon Survey.

Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero, Paul Camilleri & Enrico Prosperi

Recovery of comet P/2002 LZ11 (LINEAR) = P/2009 H1 (LINEAR)

IAU Circular No. 9039, issued on 2009 Apr 19, announces our recovery of P/2002 LZ_11 (LINEAR), now designated P/2009 H1 (LINEAR); it was last observed in January 2004 (MPC code #372, Geisei).

After several frustating and unsuccessful tryings due to moonlight interference and stellar crowding (the searched comet was in Sgr) we initially picked-up P/2002 LZ11 on 2009, Apr. 17.45 through a remotely controlled telescope of the GRAS network (details on image):

http://tinyurl.com/c4wn6x

In our stacking the comet was located about 4 arcmin to the East-Northeast of the ephemerids position: co-adding of 25 unfiltered exposures, 120 seconds each, through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, revealed the presence of an extremely compact coma, about 12-arcsec in diameter, and a short tail nearly 25-arcsec long toward West.

We tried further follow-up on April 18 from the same site and from the Skylive-Grove Creek Obs. (MPC #E16), however our efforts were hampered due to the star crowding and to the unsuitable observing conditions (a magn. 19 comet seen through amateurs instrumentation, needs a pretty good sky).

Hopefully we were more lucky using the 0.37-m, f/14 reflector + CCD of the Iowa Robotic Observatory near Sonoita, AZ ((MPC# 857) over the same night: co-adding of 20 unfiltered exposures, 120 seconds each, showed the presence of a tiny coma about 8-arcsec in diameter, with a faint extension toward West (two bright field stars were interfering with the detection of the small tail we had recorded well the day before). Our image is available here:

http://tinyurl.com/c7b2uf

According to the orbital elements published so far by the Minor Planet Center website (http://tinyurl.com/cqnamw), perihelion will occur on March 2010, with the comet at 2.4 AU from the Sun. This Jupiter-family comet moves along an elliptic orbit in about 7 years, having a semi-major axis of 3.7 AU, eccentricity of 0.35 and an inclination of 11.5 deg.

Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero, Paul Camilleri and Enrico Prosperi 

Recovery of comet P/2003 H4 (LINEAR) = P/2009 F7 (LINEAR)

IAU Circular No. 9038, issued on 2009 Apr 15, announces the recovery P/2003 H4 (LINEAR) = P/2009 F7 (LINEAR) by the LINEAR team and the undersigneds; it was last observed in August 2003.

The Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research facility: 

http://tinyurl.com/d5w83g

picked-up P/2003 H4 on 2009, March 31 during a single-night observing session. We indipendently found the return of this object on 2009 April 15.60 through one remotely controlled telescope of the "Skylive" network, located at Grove Creek (near Trunkey, Australia). 

In our images (stacking of 30 unfiltered images, 60-seconds each, with a 0.35-m f/7 reflector + CCD), the comet showed a diffuse coma about 15-arcsec in diameter, with a central condensation, having m2 about 19.6.

The recovered comet was about 8 arcmin East, South-East to the ephemerids positions, located in Hydra.

Here you can found our recovery image of April 15, 2009:

http://tinyurl.com/dn568m 

Afterwards we performed some further follow-up from different observing sites and instruments, that confirmed the aspect of this object. 

Like the Iowa Robotic Observatory (MPC# 857) 20x60 stack of images, obtained on 16 April 2009:

http://tinyurl.com/c8nm39

or the GRAS stacking, obtained on the same night under good seeign conditions (details on image):

http://tinyurl.com/dlol8m

According to the orbital elements published so far by the Minor Planet Center website (http://tinyurl.com/c8k56q), perihelion will occur on June 2009, with the comet at 1.7 AU from the Sun. This Jupiter-family comet moves along an elliptic orbit in 6.1 years, having a semi-major axis of 3.3 AU, eccentricity of 0.49 and an inclination of 18 deg.

We would like to thank the Grove Creek-Skylive staff for their kind support during this recovery.

by Giovanni Sostero, Enrico Prosperi, Ernesto Guido & Paul Camilleri 

Recovery of P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR) = P/2009 F3 (LINEAR)

IAU Circular No. 9031, issued on 2009 Mar 20, announces the recovery of comet P/2001 MD_7 = COMET P/2009 F3 (LINEAR) by the undersigneds; it was last observed in April 2002.

We picked up this object on 2009 Mar 17, 18 and 20 through a couple of remotely controlled telescopes, located in New Mexico and Australia. The comet appeared as a pale glow, magnitude about 18, nearly 15 arcsec in diameter.

The recovered comet was very close to the ephemerids positions, however its detection has been a little problematic, because it was rather low in the morning sky just before twilight, located in a rich star field in Sgr. We took several nights of observations to locate it, fighting with clouds and moonlight interference.

Here you can see our image of March 22, 2009:

http://tinyurl.com/czgnts

According the orbital elements published by the Minor Planet Center, perihelion will occur in September 2009, with the comet at 1.25 AU from the Sun; at that time P/2009 F3 (LINEAR) will reach about magnitude 12. This object moves along an elliptic orbit in 7.9 years, having a semi-major axis of 3.97 AU, eccentricity of 0.68 and an inclination nearly 13.5 deg.

We thanks the Mayhill-GRAS and Grove Creek-Skylive staff for the kind support they provided us for this tricky recovery.

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Paul Camilleri

Recovery of Comet 59P/Kearns-Kwee

This periodic comet, 59P/Kearns–Kwee, has been recovered by us, on 2008, July 28 & 29, during the Visnjan School of Astronomy, an educational project aimed at the introduction of young talented students into the field of astronomy, organized every year by the Visnjan Observatory .

Two consecutive nights of follow up, as recommended by the Minor Planet Center, has been secured by means of the remotely controlled Skylive-4 telescope (0-30m, f/6.3 reflector + CCD) located in Catania, Italy (B40 – Skylive Observatory, Catania). 59P has been picked-up in the morning sky in Aries, significantly fainter than predicted (about magnitude 19) but very close to the expected position. In our stackings it appears as a faint dot of light, slightly wider than the nearby field stars of similar brightness. At recovery the comet was located about 2.8 AU from both, Earth and Sun. According to the Minor Planet Center, the last time of its observation was 2000, March 9 (Kuma Kogen Observatory).

Our recovery image. Click on it for a bigger version:

Comet Kearns-Kwee belongs to the Jupiter family comets; its period is nearly 9.5 years; at perihelion (March 2009) it will get as close as 2.3 AU from our star (beyond the orbit of Mars) while at aphelion it reaches 6.6 AU from the Sun (beyond Jupiter).

According to the current ephemerids, comet Kearns-Kwee will reach its maximum brightness at perigee, on November 2008: at that time it will shine at about magnitude 14, very well located (for northern observers) in the autumn constellation of Triangulum.

Updated orbital elements and ephemerids are available, as always, at the Minor Planet Center website.

by G. Sostero, E. Guido, J. Piquard, D. Bektesevic and A. Galant