[IAUC] IAUC 8847: COMET 133P/ELST-PIZARRO; C/2007 F2-F5, C/2007 G2, C/2007 H4-H9 [25139-2008/05-R1]

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                                                  Circular No. 8847
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
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COMET 133P/ELST-PIZARRO
     D. Jewitt, P. Lacerda, and N. Peixinho, University of Hawaii,
report that comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro = minor planet (7968) Elst-
Pizarro has become active after a long period of quiescence.
Optical observations with the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope
on June 11 UT show a straight tail at least 20" long in p.a. 256
deg.  The apparent red magnitude within an aperture 8" in projected
diameter is approximately 19.5.  Activity in 133P was last observed
in 2002 December.  The re-emergence of activity near perihelion (T
= 2007 June 29.3 TT; e.g., Nakano 2007, ICQ 2007 Comet Handbook) is
consistent with the identification of this object as an ice-bearing
minor planet or "main-belt comet" (Hsieh et al. 2004, A.J. 127,
2997).  Further observations to characterize the evolution of the
mass loss in the coming months are encouraged.


COMETS C/2007 F2-F5, C/2007 G2, C/2007 H4-H9 (SOHO)
     Additional near-sun comets (cf. IAUC 8846) have been found on
SOHO website images -- all being Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2007 F4 (Meyer group).  C/2007 F2 reached mag about 5 in C3
images, and showed a thin, faint, 15' tail in C2 images.  C/2007 F3
was stellar in appearance, reaching mag about 6; it was tailless
even in C2 images.  C/2007 F4 was stellar in appearance and reached
mag about 6.5.  C/2007 H6, C/2007 H8, and C/2007 H9 were fuzzy,
very faint, and tailless.  C/2007 H7 was was slightly diffuse,
reaching mag about 7, with a hint of a tail.  The remaining four
objects were very small, somewhat diffuse, and quite faint (mag
about 7.5-8).

 Comet       2007 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2007 F2   Mar. 20.904    0 29.3  - 1 36   C3/2   BZ   2007-K68
 C/2007 F3        27.446    0 40.2  + 0 46   C3/2   BZ   2007-K68
 C/2007 F4        28.488    0 32.0  + 4 45   C3/2   BZ   2007-K69
 C/2007 F5        30.118    0 42.0  + 3 08   C2     TH   2007-K69
 C/2007 G2   Apr.  8.018    1 14.4  + 6 19   C2     TH   2007-K69
 C/2007 H4        18.963    1 53.4  +10 03   C2     BZ   2007-K69
 C/2007 H5        20.743    1 59.9  +10 36   C2     RK   2007-K69
 C/2007 H6        21.868    2 04.5  +11 04   C2     VB   2007-L02
 C/2007 H7        23.160    2 08.7  +11 18   C2     BZ   2007-L02
 C/2007 H8        29.976    2 33.0  +13 26   C2     BZ   2007-L02
 C/2007 H9        30.535    2 35.6  +13 32   C2     BZ   2007-L02

                      (C) Copyright 2007 CBAT
2007 June 12                   (8847)            Daniel W. E. Green