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IAUC 9084: COMET P/2009 SK_280 (SPACEWATCH-HILL); C/2009 J1, C/2009 J2

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IAUC number 

                                                  Circular No. 9084
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)
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COMET P/2009 SK_280 (SPACEWATCH-HILL)
     R. E. Hill, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, reports his
discovery of a comet with the Mount Lemmon Survey's 1.5-m f/2
reflector on Oct. 15.4 UT.  Four co-added 30-s exposures showed a
small, condensed nuclear condensation with a 20"-30" fan-shaped
tail in p.a. 240 deg; the comet's appearance was similar on four
further co-added exposures an hour later.  Pre-discovery Spacewatch
observations (all showing asteroidal appearance) obtained by T. H.
Bressi, J. V. Scotti, and R. S. McMillan on Sept. 17, 25, and 29
were then identified at the Minor Planet Center, those on the last
two nights having previously been linked under the designation 2009
SK_280 and published on MPS 297945.  The two discovery observations
are given below (the Spacewatch data from Sept. 25 being made with
the 0.9-m f/3 reflector at Kitt Peak).

     2009 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.   Observer
     Sept.25.28819    1 44 47.49   + 4 15 40.7   20.1   Spacewatch
     Oct. 15.36043    1 32 40.70   + 3 54 44.8   19.8   Hill

On Oct. 16.3, Scotti (using the Spacewatch II 1.8-m f/2.7 reflector)
detected a 0'.39 tail in p.a. 239 deg, while Hill (at Mount Lemmon)
noted a 20"-30" tail in p.a. 230 deg and W. H. Ryan (Magdalena
Ridge, 2.4-m f/8.9 reflector) found a tail in p.a. 225 deg.
     The previously unpublished astrometric observations appear on
MPEC 2009-U02, together with these elliptical orbital elements and
an ephemeris:

     T = 2009 Apr. 22.2398 TT         Peri. = 324.1478
     e = 0.127467                     Node  =  36.4871  2000.0
     q = 4.178926 AU                  Incl. =  16.7109
       a =  4.789418 AU    n = 0.0940329    P =  10.48 years


COMETS C/2009 J1 AND C/2009 J2 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9083, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2009 J1 was slightly diffuse with
a short tail (peak mag about 6.5-7).  C/2009 J2 was very faint (mag
about 8-8.5) and diffuse.

 Comet        2009 UT      R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2009 J1    May  3.008    2 45.9  +14 20    C2    MU   2009-N46
 C/2009 J2         3.458    2 47.6  +14 27    C2    MK   2009-N46

                      (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 October 21                (9084)            Daniel W. E. Green

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