[IAUC] CBET 2088: 20091221 : COMET C/2009 Y2 (KOWALSKI)

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                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 2088
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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COMET C/2009 Y2 (KOWALSKI)
     R. A. Kowalski, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, reports a cometary
object (discovery observation below) with the 0.68-m Schmidt at the Catalina
Sky Survey; in good seeing, it appeared more diffuse than a typical object of
comparable brightness and showed what appeared to be a round coma with
strong condensation in p.a. 270 deg.  Observations by A. R. Gibbs with the
Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m reflector on Dec. 20.2 UT showed a 4".5 broad tail in p.a. 45
deg.  After the discovery had been added to the NEO Confirmation Page,
W. H. Ryan and E. V. Ryan (Magdalena Ridge Observatory, 2.4-m f/8.9 reflector)
on Dec. 20.2 and 21.1 confirmed a faint tail in p.a. 45 deg.  A 105-min
integration by P. Birtwhistle (Great Shefford, Berkshire, England, 0.40-m
f/6.0 Schmidt-Cassegrain) on Dec. 20.9 showed the object to have a diameter of
about 6" with a 10" extension in p.a. 50 deg; a faint, straight tail was
suspected, also in p.a. 50 deg, at least 25" and possibly up to 45" long.

     2009 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.   Observer
     Dec. 20.11774   00 37 55.48   +31 27 27.2   18.9   Kowalski

     Further astrometry, the following parabolic orbital elements and an
ephemeris are given on MPEC 2009-Y40.

     T = 2010 Apr.  2.849 TT          Peri. = 177.247
                                      Node  = 260.726   2000.0
     q = 2.29149 AU                   Incl. =  30.655


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                         (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 December 21                 (CBET 2088)              Brian G. Marsden