Comet C/2008 J2 Beshore

ngcles · #1 08-05-2008, 12:36 PM

Hi All,

A new low inclination comet has been announced that was discovered just a few days ago by Ed Beshore of the Catalina group. It is currently in Ophiuchus at about 14th magnitude but has the potential to be a relatively bright telescopic or binocular object over the coming months.

Preliminary orbital elements, details and an ephemeris are here:

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephem...ts/2008J2.html

which indicate the comet will be a primarily southern hemisphere object reaching perihelion in early October near the border of Ara and Telescopium at approximately 8th magnitude.

As more astometric observations are gathered the orbit will become better known and improved predictions will be available.

One to watch for.

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T

Outbackmanyep · #2 08-05-2008, 03:50 PM

Cheers! I'll download elements and will be following this one when it becomes available in my 10"!

iceman (Mike) · #3 08-05-2008, 04:03 PM

Will it develop a big tail and be visible at Lostock?

Ric · #4 08-05-2008, 05:03 PM

Ta for the heads up, I'll keep an eye out for this one.

Cheers

ngcles · #5 08-05-2008, 06:44 PM

Hi Mike & All,

Mike wrote:

"Will it develop a big tail and be visible at Lostock?"

It's hard to be sure (be sure -v- Beshore ... get it!) (sorry, couldn't resist that one) at this early stage (it'd be nice certainly), but I'd have thought it manifestly unlikely to be a "show-stopper" variety comet.

It's not outside the bounds of possibility it might reach naked-eye visibility. As to much of a tail, not likely I'd have thought. Others more expert with comets will have a much better idea of this than I.

Greg??

Best to keep an eye on it either way though!

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T

Greg Bryant · #6 08-05-2008, 10:24 PM

It's always a pleasure to see a new comet discovery officially announced in the morning e-mail inbox.

The orbit for this comet has been calculated, thus far, only on the arc of positions measured over a period less than 30 hours.

If the true orbit stayed as currently published, the comet might be a nice binocular sight in Spring - a little brighter than the ephemeris perhaps - and visible during the September and October new moon weekends.

Let's see, though, what happens over the next few days and weeks as the orbit is better refined.

Regards,
Greg