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IAUC 9005: COMET P/2008 X4 = P/2003 K2 (CHRISTENSEN); 208P; V5580 Sgr

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IAUC number 

                                                  Circular No. 9005
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html  ISSN 0081-0304
Phone 617-495-7440/7244/7444 (for emergency use only)


COMET P/2008 X4 = P/2003 K2 (CHRISTENSEN)
     K. Battams, Naval Research Laboratory, writes that A. Watson
found a comet on SECCHI HI1-B images (via the STEREO-B spacecraft;
cf. IAUC 8926, 8930), Battams noting a very faint, short tail
("discovery" observation tabulated below).  R. Kracht made
measurements of the object's position and computed a parabolic
orbit, from which M. Meyer suggested identity with comet P/2003 K2
(cf. IAUC 8136, 8138, 8145).  The indicated correction to the
prediction on MPC 56802 is Delta(T) = -22 days.

     2008 UT           R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.
     Dec.  8.239      12 56.2      -17 06       10

Astrometric measurements of P/2008 X4 by Battams, with reductions
by B. G. Marsden, are published on MPEC 2008-X81, together with the
following orbital elements by Marsden -- linking the two
apparitions (from 227 observations; mean residual 2".9) -- and an
ephemeris.

                    Epoch = 2003 Mar. 22.0 TT
     T = 2003 Apr.  7.8452 TT         Peri. = 345.4643
     e = 0.828360                     Node  =  93.9292  2000.0
     q = 0.548752 AU                  Incl. =  10.1398
       a =  3.197110 AU    n = 0.1724121    P =   5.72 years

                    Epoch = 2008 Nov. 30.0 TT
     T = 2008 Dec. 19.9610 TT         Peri. = 345.7643
     e = 0.831673                     Node  =  93.8928  2000.0
     q = 0.534811 AU                  Incl. =  10.2156
       a =  3.177213 AU    n = 0.1740342    P =   5.66 years


COMETS 208P/McMILLAN AND 209P/LINEAR
     Comet P/2008 U1 (McMillan) = P/2000 S7 (cf. IAUCs 8997, 9000)
has been given the permanent designation 208P.  Comet P/2008 X2
(LINEAR) = P/2004 CB (cf. IAUC 9002) is assigned the permanent
designation 209P.


V5580 SAGITTARII
     W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, provides a revised position
for this nova, which should replace his position published on IAUC
9004:  R.A. = 18h22m01s.45 +/- 0s.06, Decl. = -28o02'38".1 +/- 3".5
(equinox 2000.0).

                      (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 December 12               (9005)            Daniel W. E. Green

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