Electronic Telegram No. 4306
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
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COMET 288P/2006 VW_139
     J. Agarwal, Max Planck Insitute for Solar System Research, Goettingen;
D. Jewitt, University of California, Los Angeles; H. Weaver, Applied Physics
Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University; M. Mutchler, Space Telescope Science
Institute; amd S. Larson, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of
Arizona, report the return of activity in comet 288P = minor planet (300163)
[cf. CBET 2920].  This object showed a 6"-long dust tail in position angle
253 deg in WFC3 images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope during 2016
Aug. 22.136-22.162 UT.  Comet 288P had been active during its last perihelion
passage in 2011 but returned to inactivity in 2012.  The repeated appearance
of a dust tail at a comparable orbital position in two consecutive orbits
(the next perihelion being 2016 Nov. 8) confirms that the activity is driven
by the sublimation of ice, triggered by the enhanced solar heating near
perihelion.  The position angle of the tail differs by 7 degrees from that
of the projected orbit, confirming that it consists of freshly ejected
material rather than of debris from the 2011 activity.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
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                         (C) Copyright 2016 CBAT
2016 August 25                   (CBET 4306)              Daniel W. E. Green