P/2008 O2 (McNaught)
Discovered by R. H. McNaught (Siding Spring) on July, 28 2008.
The latest IAU telegrams or the latest CBET's. IAUC Astronomical Headlines.
Minor
planet center's orbital elements and Ephemeris, the comet on
Seiichi Yoshida's Homepage
Light
curves on Cometas Obs,
JPL Small body
database
When blinking the images I found two "new" objects on the side of the comet: MAID01 and MAID02
GIF Animation
MAID01 (K09SH2G) is a recovery: 2009
SG172 = 2003 UD373 = 2006 AE103 see:
MPC 2009-T01
MAID02 (K09SO2T) is a new object and . MAID02 =
2009 ST242
see: MPC 2009-T05
Antonio Garrigós
Sánchez (B37) confirmed the objects at
September, 30 2009. Thanks a lot for this great work!
Also thanks to Josep M.
Bosch (B74), the discoverer of the Apollo Asteroid and Near Earth Object (NEO)
2009 ST19,
who helped to make the contact to Antonio.
P/2008 O2 (MxNaught) © by Bernhard Haeusler, 2009-09-28 B/W
24 x 5 min. exposure,
2009-09-28 UT 01:52 to 03:46, 12" SCT
f-6.532 + CCD ST10XME
19.04 mag, coma: 12", tail: 46" in PA 239°
Pre-discovery image of MAID02 (K09SO2T), a main belt asteroid. MAID02 = 2009 ST242
P/2008 O2 (MxNaught) © by Bernhard Haeusler, 2009-09-26 B/W
24 x 5 min. exposure,
2009-09-26 UT 01:27 to 03:31, 12" SCT
f-6.532 + CCD ST10XME
18.87 mag, coma: 9", tail: 10" in PA 224°
Orbital elements and
tables of 2009 ST242 (K09SO2T), produced by
ORBITAS
Software.
(The orbital elements of 2009 ST242 are entered manually into the MPCORB
database)
At Febrary, 21 2011 the
asteroid has its closest approach to Earth (1.7 AU) and its best magnitude (19.7
mag).
Around these days the observation of the asteroid is recommend.
ORBITAS can also provide your max. exposure time per image for this asteroid (i.E. for my equipment at February, 21: 165 seconds exp.time - 1.6"/pix).