New Comet -- C/2008 C1

[ngcles]

HI All,

IAU Circ 8915 annnounces the discovery of C/2008 C1 Chen-Gao.

Part of the circular is reproduced:

J. Beize, Beijing Technology and Business University, reports
> the discovery of a comet by Tao Chen (Suzhou City, Jiangsu province,
> China) on a CCD image taken on Feb. 1 by Xing Gao (Urumqi, Xinjiang
> province) with a wide-field 7-cm, 200-mm-f.l., f/2.8 camera lens (+
> Canon 350D camera) at Gao's Xingming Observatory, Mt. Nanshan, in
> the course of a nova survey; subsequent images of the comet were
> identified on earlier exposures that had been taken by Gao on Jan.
> 30 (when the comet appeared at mag 14.0) and Jan. 31 (mag 13.5),
> and Gao obtained confirming images on Feb. 2 (showing that its
> brightness increase had continued to mag 12.0). The astrometry
> tabulated below are only approximate measures of the positions from
> the poor-scale Xingming images (computer problems has prevented use
> of an astrometry program to derive better positions, which should
> follow later). Following posting on the Minor Planet Center's
> 'NEOCP' webpage, numerous CCD astrometrists have commented on the
> comet's appearance, including J. Lacruz, Madrid, Spain (0.40-m
> Ritchey-Chretien reflector, Feb. 2.8 UT; condensed inner coma of
> diameter 20"; outer coma of diameter 50", slightly elongated in p.a.
> 35 deg); L. Buzzi and F. Luppi, Varese, Italy (0.60-m f/4.64
> reflector, Feb. 2.9; coma at least 2'.5 wide, elongated in p.a.
> about 30 deg); T. Kryachko, Moscow, Russia (0.30-m f/7.7 Ritchey-
> Chretien 'Astrotel-Caucasus' telescope in Karachay-Cherkessia,
> Russia, operated remotely, Feb. 2.89; 1'.2 round coma with central
> condensation, possibly elongated in p.a. 50 deg or 320 deg;
> communicated by D. Denisenko); M. Pietschnig, Vienna, Austria
> (0.35-m f/7 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector, Feb. 2.95; coma diameter
> about 2'); and P. C. Sherrod, Conway, AR, U.S.A. (0.51-m f/4
> Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector, Feb. 3.04-3.06, with high clouds
> present; coma diameter about 22", quite uniform in both intensity
> and in symmetry, with a very distinct stellar condensation of mag
> 16.4 and some indications of a tail in p.a. about 40 deg).
>
> 2008 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Observer
> Jan. 30.91573 22 50 58 +62 15.2 14.0 Gao
> 31.92406 22 57 08 +62 13.9 13.5 "
> Feb. 1.66713 23 03 48 +62 12.4 13.0 "
> 2.64737 23 09 34 +62 11.6 12.0 "
>
> The available observations, very preliminary parabolic orbital
> elements (T = 2008 Apr. 17.216 TT, q = 1.26927 AU, Peri. = 180.781
> deg, Node. = 307.451 deg, i = 61.943 deg, equinox 2000.0), and an
> ephemeris appear on MPEC 2008-C16.

This is potentially a nice _telescopic_ comet, though the orbital elements at this stage are pretty rough, it is worth monitoring!

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor AS&T

[circumpolar]

Dec +62
Too far North for me at the moment.

[astroron]

The current data has it coming into the northern sky just after dark, at about mag 11-12 in the second week on March 10 the coordinates are RA=03:11'.2"
DEC=+50:26'25".
This may change a little as the orbit is refined.
Ron

[Outbackmanyep]

According to members of comets-ml, it has a very nice meeting with 17P Holmes on the
28th March.......although 17P will be hard to spot!!
The best they're predicting for this new comet is around mag 11.....still worth a look i reckon, just like ANY comet, visual observations would be strongly encouraged!!!!
Cheers!

[CometGuy]

Notice also it was discovered using a DSLR :)

Terry

[fringe_dweller]

I cant even see a diffuse mag 10 or 11 comet visually in a 10 inch scope from where i live, and if i can, the loss of quality/detail as compared to a country view like yours is so great as to not be worth doing IMO.

[Outbackmanyep]

I know the feeling Kearn, i tried finding Q1 visually in my 10" and no go, but i do have access to the 14" SCT at Armidale Observatory, might throw the f/6.3 reducer on that and have a go!!!