[IAUC] IAUC 8985: C/2008 N2-N11, C/2008 O1, , C/2008 O4 [25139-2009/08-R1]

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                                                  Circular No. 8985
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
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COMETS C/2008 N2-N11, C/2008 O1, AND C/2008 O4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8984, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 N4 (a Kracht-group member that was suggested by R.
Kracht as being identical with C/2002 S7; cf. IAUC 7986, plus the
discussion and analysis on MPEC 2008-P60) and C/2008 N10 (no known
group).  C/2008 N2 was very bright (mag about 4.5) and elongated in
C3 images, and showed a diffuse tail about 0.5 deg long in C2
images (where it appeared headless inside about 6 solar radii
(apparent); SECCHI COR2-A images on July 3-4 showed a thin tail
much like that seen in C2 images, and a tail also was seen to form
in the last images obtained with the COR2-B camera on July 4.
C/2008 N3 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about 7.5).  C/2008
N4, C/2008 N10, and C/2008 N11 were small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 N5 was quite faint (mag about
7.5) and stellar in appearance in C3 images, while it was slightly
diffuse with no tail in C2 images.  C/2008 N6 was small and stellar
in appearance (mag about 7.5) in C3 images, but slightly diffuse in
C2 images.  C/2008 N7 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about 8).
C/2008 N8 was quite bright (mag about 6) and slightly elongated in
C3 images; it was teardrop-shaped and slightly diffuse in C2 images.
C/2008 N9 was small and stellar in appearance (mag about 7) in C3
images, but diffuse and slightly elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 O4
was stellar in appearance, peaking at mag about 5.5 around Sept.
6.83 UT.
     Additional astrometry of C/2008 O1 (cf. IAUC 8962) was
published on MPEC 2008-P33, with the note by K. Battams that it
appeared very small and stellar in appearance, peaking at mag about
6.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 N2    July  2.888    6 35.8  +18 46   C3/2*  BZ   2008-P60
 C/2008 N3          3.913    6 44.7  +21 37   C2     RK   2008-P60
 C/2008 N4          4.104    6 45.6  +23 14   C2     TH   2008-P60
 C/2008 N5          4.388    6 43.7  +20 36   C3/2   AK   2008-P60
 C/2008 N6          5.238    6 44.5  +19 23   C3/2   HS   2008-S67
 C/2008 N7          6.104    6 53.7  +21 31   C2     TH   2008-S67
 C/2008 N8          7.654    6 52.5  +18 45   C3/2   BZ   2008-S68
 C/2008 N9          8.321    6 59.2  +20 23   C3     BZ   2008-S68
 C/2008 N10        10.579    7 14.7  +21 52   C2     RK   2008-S68
 C/2008 N11        12.513    7 15.1  +20 00   C3     HS   2008-S68
 C/2008 O4         25.421    8 12.5  +20 17   C2     MK   2008-S67

                      (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 September 30              (8985)            Daniel W. E. Green