Do you think this is a comet?

[theodog (Jeff)]

Hi All,
I was just mucking around looking for some NEO objects from this page,
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/NEO/ToConfirmRA.html
This site does not indicate possible comets.

This image is cropped from one of 8O56129. The larger circle indicates the target. The smaller circle has an object that seems to be moving in a similar fashion.

8O56129 mag 18.4
Mistery object 20.1

3x10min -darks
through 12"f5

Positions of 8O56129 can be gained from the above site.

[matt]

The one to the right certainly looks like the goods.

There does appear to be some material streaming down and to the right, in comet-tail fashion.

Interesting stuff.

[iceman (Mike)]

Definitely looks like one, Theo. Nice!

[Phil]

Looks like one to me.
Phil

[Garyh]

You might have discovered a new comet!

[theodog (Jeff)]

I do not claim to have discovered this comet.
The NEO site simply does not list objects as comets or not.
The object of interest is the smaller of the two. It seems to be in a similar orbit.

[tornado33]

I wonder if both are a fragmented comet?
Scott

[Greg Bryant]

Overnight, object 8O56129 was announced as Comet C/2008 O2 (McNaught).

The orbit is preliminary at this stage, but positions for the comet can be found here:

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/Ephem...ts/2008O2.html

[Alchemy (Clive)]

crikeys, when was it first noticed by Mcnaught..... hes got a few under his belt so it would have been nice to be called Comet C/2008 02 (Odog) hehe.
did you report it as a possible finding to the Astronomical people?

well im impressed anyway, this search of yours came pretty close to a bit of paydirt there. maybee the next one will be yours, keep at it.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Congrats. It certainly looks like you found something. It seems to be moving faster than the objects around it and it looks like it has a tail.

Adrian

[theodog (Jeff)]

Hi All,
Thanks for the positive comments.
Here are the words from the NEO site.

"It is possible that some of the objects listed here are comets, either recognised or currently unrecognised as such. If you detect cometary features in any of these objects, please report this fact either via e-mail to both mpc@cfa.harvard.edu and cbat@cfa.harvard.edu, or using the COM keyword in the observational header. We do not flag suspected comets on this page because we do not wish to influence observers."
My colour, italics and bold.

I was just trying to capture some objects listed at this site. This one (8O56129) was obviously a comet. It was the smaller object that is of interest to me.

Rob would have found it and reported his finding to the NEO people. They(NEO) were just after follow-up obs.

I just knew it was a comet before it was anounced (fairly obvious).

My full congratulations go to Rob McNaught for yet another comet.
Well done Rob.

It does make an interesting project to follow up on these objects. Give it a go.

[Jen]

Awwwwww Comet Odog/2008 was beginning to sound good
keep watching