New Comet -- C/2009 E1 (Itagaki)

[ngcles]

Hi All,

I have become aware from Brian Skiff via another mailing list that a new telescopic comet C/2009 E1 (Itagaki) is reported in MPEC 2009-E69:

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu:80/mpec/K09/K09E69.html

for orbital elements and an ephemeris.

To quote Brian Skiff:

"It was discovered by Koichi Itagaki in Yamagata, Japan using a 21cm f/3 telescope + CCD. Various visual observers suggest it is about mag 10 and 3'-4' diameter. It s low in the west at dusk for northern observers, but still higher than Venus."

Might be worth keeping an eye on. Faint certainly at the moment and not likely to reach great heights, but after a relatively close (0.608 A.U) perihelion passage in early April, who knows what could happen.

Orbital elements and the ephemeris is likely to alter a bit over time as the astrometry is improved by further observation.


Best,

Les D

[glenc (Glen)]

Thanks Les.

[Rob_K]

Thanks Les! Latest obs have it around mag 9.6 (vis), but it is plunging towards the sun. About 12 deg alt in WNW in deep twilight from my place tonight, so anyone wanting to see it now had better hurry! Cloudy here though...

Chart at:
http://shopplaza.nl/astro/comets/09E1CH01.png

Cheers -

[astroron (Ron)]

Thanks Les, Co-ords are already in the ARGO NAVIS but cloudy here too
But there is always tomorrow night