[IAUC] IAUC 9045: C/2009 K2; 220P [25139-2009/08-R1]

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                                                  Circular No. 9045
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
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COMET C/2009 K2 (CATALINA)
     An apparently asteroidal object discovered (as tabulated below)
by the Catalina Sky Survey (observer R. A. Kowalski), and posted on
the Minor Planet Center's 'NEOCP' confirmation page, has been found
by CCD astrometrists to show cometary appearance.  W. H. Ryan
(Magdalena Ridge 2.4-m reflector, near Socorro, NM; May 18.4 UT)
notes a distinct tail in p.a. approximately 200 deg.  J. Young
(Table Mountain 0.61-m reflector) reports a bright, well-defined
coma of diameter 5" with a poorly defined 16" extension in p.a.
about 235 deg on images taken during May 18.43-18.46 (light cirrus
clouds present); he adds that additional images from May 19.33-
19.35 show a small bright coma with a definite broad tail spanning
p.a. 210-250 deg, its greatest length being 14" in p.a. 235 deg.
L. Bittesini, D. Di Maria, E. Pettarin, and F. Piani (Farra
D'Isonzo, Italy, 0.40-m reflector; May 18.9) find that forty
co-added 60-s exposures reveal a 10" coma that is elongated in p.a.
190 deg.  P. Birtwhistle (Great Shefford, Berkshire, England,
0.40-m reflector; May 18.9) reports an almost-stellar center of
diameter 4" with a 6" tail in p.a. 210 deg.  E. Guido,
Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, writes that G. Sostero and he
co-added 33 unfiltered 120-s exposures obtained remotely with a
0.25-m f/3.4 reflector near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A., on May 19.2,
revealing a tiny, compact coma about 7" in diameter with a tail
about 12" long toward p.a. 240 deg.

     2009 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.   Observer
     May  18.33287   16 39 44.35   +60 58 07.0   19.4   Catalina

The available astrometry, the following very preliminary orbital
elements, and an ephemeris appear on MPEC 2009-K20.

     T = 2010 Aug. 18.870 TT          Peri. = 162.060
                                      Node  = 112.706   2000.0
     q = 3.83854 AU                   Incl. =  70.910


COMET 220P/2009 H2 (McNAUGHT)
     J. L. Montani, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of
Arizona, reports that he has examined the "incidental astrometry"
images of this comet (cf. IAUC 9040) obtained on Apr. 28 with the
Spacewatch 0.9-m Mosaic telescope at Kitt Peak by T. H. Bressi.
In 1".1 seeing, the comet's images appear to be stellar, with no
trace of extended coma or tail, to the limiting magnitude of the
approximately 120-s single exposures.

                      (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 May 19                    (9045)            Daniel W. E. Green