[IAUC] IAUC 8974: P/2008 R4; P/2008 R5 [25139-2009/08-R1]

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                                                  Circular No. 8974
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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Phone 617-495-7440/7244/7444 (for emergency use only)


COMET P/2008 R4 (KORLEVIC)
     G. V. Williams, Minor Planet Center, has identified recovery
observations of comet P/1999 WJ_7 (cf. IAUC 7368) on Sept. 3 in
incidental astrometry obtained with the Spacewatch 0.9-m telescope
by T. H. Bressi.  A request by B. G. Marsden to J. V. Scotti for
confirming observations yielded images with the same telescope on
Sept. 9.4, in which Scotti notes that the comet is slightly diffuse
with a 0'.14 tail in p.a. 201 deg.  The indicated correction to the
prediction on MPC 59598 is Delta(T) = -0.3 day.

     2008 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.
     Sept. 3.24478    0 09 59.68   + 4 59 39.4   20.3

The new astrometry, together with the following revised orbital
elements and an ephemeris, appear on MPEC 2008-R53.

                    Epoch = 2010 Feb. 13.0 TT
     T = 2010 Feb.  8.1984 TT         Peri. = 154.5443
     e = 0.315128                     Node  = 290.5650  2000.0
     q = 3.182125 AU                  Incl. =   2.9758
       a =  4.646302 AU    n = 0.0984108    P =  10.02 years


COMET P/2008 R5 (LINEAR-NEAT)
     Williams has also identified recovery observations of comet
P/2001 TU_80 (cf. IAUC 7753) on Sept. 8 in incidental astrometry
obtained with the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope by Scotti.  Again, a
request to Scotti for confirmation yielded images with the 0.9-m
reflector on Sept. 9.4 that show a coma diameter of 6" and a faint
tail extending 0'.16 in p.a. 225 deg.  The indicated correction to
the prediction on MPC 54171 is Delta(T) = -0.3 day.

     2008 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.
     Sept. 8.43387    6 13 37.98   +18 59 47.5

The new astrometry, together with the following revised orbital
elements and an ephemeris, appear on MPEC 2008-R54.

                    Epoch = 2008 Nov. 30.0 TT
     T = 2008 Dec.  9.2712 TT         Peri. = 355.0388
     e = 0.470561                     Node  = 109.1065  2000.0
     q = 1.940235 AU                  Incl. =   6.5812
       a =  3.664697 AU    n = 0.1404905    P =   7.02 years

                      (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 September 9               (8974)            Daniel W. E. Green