[IAUC] IAUC 9052: P/2009 L2; C/2008 Q3 [25139-2009/08-R1]

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                                                  Circular No. 9052
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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COMET P/2009 L2 (YANG-GAO)
     Rui Yang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; and Xing Gao, Urumqi,
Xinjiang, China, report the discovery of a new comet on several
survey images (limiting mag about 15) taken by Gao in the course of
the Xingming Comet Survey using a Canon 350D camera (+ 10.7-cm
f/2.8 camera lens) at Mt. Nanshan -- the new object identified as
cometary by Yang.  After posting on the Minor Planet Center's
'NEOCP' webpage, numerous other CCD astrometrists have reported the
object to have cometary appearance during June 16.4-16.7 UT,
including E. Guido and G. Sostero (remotely using a "Global
Rent-a-Scope" 25-cm reflector near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; ten
co-added unfiltered 60-s exposures show a coma of diameter about
40" and a tail nearly 90" long in p.a. 245 deg); L. Elenin
(remotely using a 20-cm refractor at Tzec Maun Observatory near
Cloudcroft, NM; coma of size about 36" with a short tail in p.a.
225 deg); E. Prosperi and P. Camilleri (remotely using a 36-cm
reflector at Grove Creek Observatory, Trunkey, N.S.W., Australia;
30" coma with 70" tail in p.a. 240 deg); M. Suzuki (Utsunomiya,
Tochigi, Japan, remotely using a "Global Rent-a-Scope" 25-cm
reflector at Moorook, South Australia; coma diameter about 30");
Y. Ikari (Moriyama, Shiga-ken, Japan, 26-cm reflector; coma
diameter 0'.8, with a 2'.2 tail in p.a. 253 deg); R. Ligustri
(Udine, Italy; remotely using a 35-cm reflector at Moorook;
fifteen co-added 60-s exposures show a coma diameter of about 30");
C. Jacques and E. Pimentel (remotely using a 25-cm reflector at
Moorook; 45" coma and a broad tail 1'.5 long in p.a. 240 deg).

     2009 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.   Observer
     June 15.80840   18 16 19.40   -14 15 30.7   14.2   Yang

The available astrometry, the following preliminary elliptical
orbital elements by B. G. Marsden, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC
2009-M05.

     T = 2009 May  19.898 TT          Peri. = 345.164
     e = 0.63486                      Node  = 259.343   2000.0
     q = 1.28936 AU                   Incl. =  16.223
       a =  3.53115 AU     n = 0.148535     P =   6.64 years


COMET C/2008 Q3 (GARRADD)
     Visual total-magnitude estimates:  May 26.39 UT, 7.6 (D. A. J.
Seargent, The Entrance, NSW, Australia, 10x50 binoculars; 10' coma);
June 7.90, 7.0 (A. Amorim, Florianopolis, Brazil, 20x80 binoculars;
moonlight).

                      (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 June 16                   (9052)            Daniel W. E. Green