BAA Comet Section : Comets discovered in 2008

Updated 2012 June 1


  • 2008 A1 (McNaught)
  • 2008 A2 (P/LINEAR)
  • 2008 A3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 B1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 B2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 B3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 B4 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 BN18 [Spacewatch]
  • 2008 C1 (Chen-Gao)
  • 2008 C2 (196P/Tichy)
  • 2008 C3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 C9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 CL94 (Lemmon)
  • 2008 D1 (STEREO)
  • 2008 D2 (STEREO)
  • 2008 D3 (STEREO)
  • 2008 D4 (STEREO)
  • 2008 D5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 D6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 D7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 D8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 D9 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 DS83 [Steward]
  • 2008 E1 (Catalina)
  • 2008 E2 (197P/LINEAR)
  • 2008 E3 (Garradd)
  • 2008 E4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 E5 (STEREO)
  • 2008 E6 (STEREO)
  • 2008 E7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 E8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 E9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 E10 (STEREO)
  • A/2008 ED69 [Catalina]
  • 2008 F1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 FK75 (Lemmon-Siding Spring)
  • A/2008 FF5 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 G1 (Gibbs)
  • 2008 G2 (P/Shoemaker)
  • 2008 G3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 G4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 G5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 G6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H1 (LINEAR)
  • 2008 H2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 H9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J1 (Boattini)
  • 2008 J2 (P/Beshore)
  • 2008 J3 (P/McNaught)
  • 2008 J4 (McNaught)
  • 2008 J5 (Garradd)
  • 2008 J6 (Hill)
  • 2008 J7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J14 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J15 (SOHO)
  • 2008 J16 (SOHO)
  • 2008 JL14 [Kitt Peak]
  • 2008 JS14 [Siding Spring]
  • 2008 K1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 K10 (P/SOHO)
  • 2008 K11 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 KB12 [Andrushivka]
  • A/2008 KV42 [Mauna Kea]
  • 2008 L1 (200P/Larsen)
  • 2008 L2 (P/Hill)
  • 2008 L3 (Hill)
  • 2008 L4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L14 (SOHO)
  • 2008 L15 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 M7 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 MR1 [LINEAR]
  • 2008 N1 (Holmes)
  • 2008 N2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 N11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 O1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 O2 (P/McNaught)
  • 2008 O3 (P/Boattini)
  • 2008 O4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 O5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 O6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 O7 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 OB9 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 P1 (Garradd)
  • 2008 P2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 P3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 P4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 P5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 P6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 PJ3 [Siding Spring]
  • 2008 Q1 (Maticic)
  • 2008 Q2 (P/Ory)
  • 2008 Q3 (Garradd)
  • 2008 Q4 (201P/LONEOS)
  • 2008 Q5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 QP20 (P/LINEAR-Hill)
  • 2008 R1 (259P/Garradd)
  • 2008 R2 (202P/Scotti)
  • 2008 R3 (LINEAR)
  • 2008 R4 (203P/Korlevic)
  • 2008 R5 (204P/LINEAR-NEAT)
  • 2008 R6 (205P/Giacobini)
  • 2008 R7 (P/SOHO)
  • 2008 R8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 R9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 R10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 R11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 R12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 R13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 S1 (P/Catalina-McNaught)
  • 2008 S2 (P/SOHO)
  • 2008 S3 (Boattini)
  • 2008 S4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 S5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 S6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 S7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 S8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 SE82 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 SB85 [Steward]
  • 2008 SO218 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 T1 (P/Boattini)
  • 2008 T2 (Cardinal)
  • 2008 T3 (206P/Barnard-Boattini)
  • 2008 T4 (P/Hill)
  • 2008 T5 (207P/NEAT)
  • 2008 T6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 T7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 T8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 T9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 T10 (P/SOHO)
  • 2008 T11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 T12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U1 (208P/McMillan)
  • 2008 U2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U14 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U15 (SOHO)
  • 2008 U16 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V1 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 V6 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 VU4 [Catalina]
  • 2008 VH14 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 W1 (STEREO)
  • 2008 W2 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W3 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 W12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 WZ96 (LINEAR)
  • 2008 WJ14 [Mt Lemmon]
  • 2008 X1 (211P/Hill)
  • 2008 X2 (209P/LINEAR)
  • 2008 X3 (LINEAR)
  • 2008 X4 (210P/Christensen)
  • 2008 X5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X14 (SOHO)
  • A/2008 XE2 [Catalina]
  • 2008 Y1 (P/Boattini)
  • 2008 Y2 (P/Gibbs)
  • 2008 Y3 (P/McNaught)
  • 2008 Y4 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y5 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y6 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y7 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y8 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y9 (SOHO)
  • 2008 X10 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y11 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y12 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y13 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y14 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y15 (SOHO)
  • 2008 Y16 (STEREO)
  • 2008 Y17 (STEREO)
  • 2008 Y18 (SOHO)
  • 2008 YB3 [Siding Spring]
  • 2008 YD29 [Steward]

  • When observing a comet please try to forget how bright you think the comet should be, what it was when you last viewed it, what other observers think it is or what the ephemeris says it should be.

    The equations for the light curves of comets that are currently visible use only the raw observations and should give a reasonable prediction for the current brightness. If the comet has not yet been observed or has gone from view a correction for aperture is included, so that telescopic observers should expect the comet to be fainter than given by the equation. The correction is about 0.033 per centimetre. Values for the r parameter given in square brackets [ ] are assumed. The form of the light curve is either the standard m = H0 + 5 log d + K0 log r or the linear brightening m = H0 + 5 log d + L0 abs(t - T + D0) where T is the date of perihelion, t the present and D0 an offset, if L0 is +ve the comet brightens towards perihelion and if D0 is +ve the comet is brightest prior to perihelion.

    Processed observations of 2008 comets [updated 2009 January] are given in ICQ format. More recent ones may be available in TA format from the main page.

    Full details of recently discovered objects will not appear until they are available on the CBAT web pages, which is usually a fortnight after the publication of the IAUC.


    Meyer Group SOHO comets
    2008 D6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 F1 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 H4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8960, 2008 July 18)
    2008 J10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 J12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 K7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 L11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 L15 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 T6 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U6 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 V2 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X5 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    were discovered with the SOHO LASCO coronographs and have not been observed elsewhere. They were sungrazing comets of the Meyer group. For further information on the discovery of these objects see this year's SOHO discoveries. Rainer Kracht suggests a speculative link between a bright Meyer group comet found on June 12 and 1997 L2. Maik Meyer noted that although Brian Marsden's orbit for 2008 U6 published on MPEC 2009-B67 did not quite match that for a Meyer group member, he was able to derive an orbit that was a good fit within the accuracy of the observations. MPEC 2009-B70 then gave a Meyer group orbit for the comet, replacing the earlier one.
    Kracht Group SOHO comets
    2008 E4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 G6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8957, 2008 July 3)
    2008 L6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28)
    2008 L7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28)
    2008 N4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 R7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    were discovered with the SOHO LASCO coronographs and have not been observed elsewhere. They were sungrazing comets of the Kracht group.

    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-F33 [2008 March 26]:

    R. Kracht suggested the identity of the Kracht group comets C/2002 Q8 and C/2008 E4 on the basis of the MPEC 2002-Q46 measurements of the former and his own measurements of the latter. He gave the previous perihelion date T = 1997 Feb. 14.9 but was unable to locate the comet on C2 images from that time. A linked orbit was computed by Brian Marsden and gives a period of 5.52 years.

    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-L29 [2008 June 6]:

    R. Kracht suggests that the Kracht-group comet C/2008 G6 is a return of comet C/2002 S11 (cf. MPEC 2002-T75).

    Rainer Kracht also suggests that a comet he discovered on June 11 may be linked to 2002 R5, with a previous return on 1996 November 25.
    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-O23 [2008 July 24]:

    Comets C/2008 L6 and L7 appear to be members of the "Kracht 2" Group, and R. Kracht suggests that they represent a return of comet C/2002 R5 (cf. MPEC 2002-S35). The 15-deg shift in the line of nodes actually supports the likely correctness of this linkage, as it is consistent with the comet's passage within 1.1 AU of Jupiter in January 2007.
    Zdenek Sekanina suggests on IAUC 8983 [2008 September 28] that 2002 R5 split 2 - 10 weeks prior to perihelion, and the fragments separated with low velocity that shows no sign of outgassing effects.

    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-P60 [2008 August 12]:

    R. Kracht suggests that the Kracht-group comet C/2008 N4 is a return of C/2002 S7, principally on the assumption that C/2002 S7 was itself a return of one of C/1996 X5, C/1996 X4 or C/1996 X3 (see MPEC 2006-C49). The derived orbit links C/2002 S7 and C/2008 N4. This gravitational linkage leads to a previous perihelion time of T = 1996 Dec. 6.00, earlier by a few hours than the values for the aforementioned 1996 comets.
    This possibly suggests the presence of non-gravitational effects, which would confirm the cometary nature of these objects. Further work by Brian Marsden confirmed my suggestion and in MPEC 2009-J14 [2009 May 4] he noted:
    Following up on MPEC 2008-P60, R. Kracht has suggested that the correct linkage for C/2002 S7 = C/2008 N4 is with C/1996 X3, on the assumption that the comet was affected by small nongravitational forces (see also MPEC 2009-H56). The nongravitational linkage, with parameters A1 = 0.0000, A2 = +0.0027, is based on Kracht's work.

    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-S67 [2008 September 26]:

    The Kracht-group comet C/2008 R7 is likely to be a return of one of the members of September 2002. R. Kracht himself suggests identity with C/2002 S5. Identity with C/2002 S11 is a distinct possibility, although this comet was associated with C/2008 G6 on MPEC 2008-L29. The published orbit links C/2008 R7 with C/2002 S4.

    For further information on the discovery of these objects see this year's SOHO discoveries.


    Marsden Group SOHO comets
    2008 A3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 X6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y11 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    were discovered with the SOHO LASCO coronographs and have not been observed elsewhere. They were sungrazing comets of the Marsden group. Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2008-B61 [2008 January 29]:
    R. Kracht has suggested the identity of the Marsden-group comet C/2008 A3 with C/2002 R1 (cf. MPEC 2002-R57). The linkage (all the observations having been made with the C2 coronagraph), by Brian Marsden, yields for the previous perihelion passage T = 1997 Apr. 19.0.

    Brian Marsden notes in MPEC 2009-F81 [2009 March 26] that Rainer Kracht suggested a linkage between 2003 Q1 and 2008 X6, and between 2003 Q6 and 2008 Y11. He further notes that the extrapolated orbits are very similar with perihelion around 1998 April 28:

    These results suggest that the comets separated from each other around that time, although Kracht remarks that there is no trace of them then, at least in C2 data he inspected from 1998 Apr. 25. The dynamical situation is similar to that involving the likely linkages C/1999 J6 = 2004 V9 and C/1999 N5 = 2005 E4, where there is a comparable difference between the elements extrapolated back to 1993 (see MPEC 2005-E87).

    Karl Battams has put together a probable family tree for the fragments.

    For further information on the discovery of these objects see this year's SOHO discoveries.


    Kreutz group comets
    2008 B1 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 B2 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 B3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 B4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 C4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 C5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 C6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8953, 2008 June 14)
    2008 C7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8953, 2008 June 14)
    2008 C8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8953, 2008 June 14)
    2008 D1 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 D2 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 D3 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 D4 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 D5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 D7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 D8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 D9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 E5 (STEREO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 E6 (STEREO)(IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20)
    2008 E8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20)
    2008 E9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20)
    2008 E10 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 G3 (SOHO)(IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20)
    2008 G4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20)
    2008 G5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8957, 2008 July 3)
    2008 H2 (SOHO)(IAUC 8960, 2008 July 18)
    2008 H3 (SOHO)(IAUC 8960, 2008 July 18)
    2008 H5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8960, 2008 July 18)
    2008 H6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8961, 2008 July 28)
    2008 H7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8961, 2008 July 28)
    2008 H8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8961, 2008 July 28)
    2008 H9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8961, 2008 July 28)
    2008 J7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 J8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 J9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 J11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 J13 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 J14 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 J15 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 J16 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K1 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K2 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K3 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 K11 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 L4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26)
    2008 L5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28)
    2008 L8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28)
    2008 L9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 L10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 L12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 L13 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 L14 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 M1 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M2 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 M7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 N2 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N3 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 N11 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    2008 O1 (SOHO)(IAUC 8962, 2008 August 1)
    2008 O5 (SOHO)(IAUC 8987, 2008 October 2)
    2008 P2 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 P3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 P4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 P5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 P6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 R9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 R10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 R11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 R12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 R13 (SOHO)(IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26)
    2008 S4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 S5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 S6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 S7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 S8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 T8 (SOHO)(IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28)
    2008 T9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 T10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 T11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 T12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U2 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 U10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U13 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U14 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U15 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 U16 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 V1 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 V3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 V4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 V6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W1 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 W2 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 W10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 W11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 W12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 X8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 X9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 X10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X11 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X12 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X13 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 X14 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 Y4 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y6 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y9 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y10 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 Y13 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 Y15 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    2008 Y16 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y17 (STEREO)(IAUC )
    2008 Y18 (SOHO)(IAUC)
    were discovered with the SOHO or STEREO coronographs and have not been observed elsewhere. They were sungrazing comets of the Kreutz group and were not expected to survive perihelion. Some of these comets show no tail at all and it is possible that some supposed observations of Vulcan were actually tiny Kreutz group comets. Details of the SOHO and STEREO Kreutz comets discovered or announced this year are listed here, with an abbreviated list here.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-E58 [2008 March 6] that

    The parabolic orbit for C/2008 D3 satisfies 52 (10 from HI1-A, 12 from COR2-A and 30 from COR2-B spanning Feb. 20.66-22.21 UT, during which time the comet's heliocentric distance decreased from 0.154 to 0.032 AU) of the 97 observations shown with residuals no more than 15" in either coordinate. T and q are good to the quoted precision, while the uncertainties in the angular elements are substantially less than 0.1 deg. Elliptical orbit computations give e = 0.9998 and 120 < P < 180 years, results that are likely to be somewhat too small for a member of the Kreutz group. The STEREO-A and STEREO-B spacecraft were respectively 0.38 and 0.41 AU from the earth, the line between them subtending an angle of 155 deg at the earth.

    2008 O1 (SOHO) was visible in the total eclipse image taken by Miloslav Druckmuller (Brno University of Technology), Peter Aniol and Vojtech Rusin. Professor Druckmuller also provides a spectacular false colour image with frames taken 20 minutes apart in Novosibirsk (10:45) and Mongolia (11:04). The earlier image appears distinctly non-stellar. This is the first ground based imaging of one of the SOHO Kreutz comets.


    2008 A1 (McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered a 15th magnitude comet on January 10.57 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The comet will reach perihelion at 1.1 AU in 2008 September, when it may reach 7th magnitude. UK observers may pick up the comet as an 8th magnitude object in late October.

    I was able to locate it on October 22.8, when it 7.8 in 20x80B. Although well condensed it was a difficult object due to its low altitude.

    78 observations received so far suggest an uncorrected preliminary light curve of m = 5.8 + 5 log d + 9.6 log r

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-F02 [2008 March 17] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000105 and +0.000374 (+/- 0.000016) AU^-1, respectively.
    The moderate "original" value suggests that this comet may have made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 A2 (P/LINEAR)
    An apparently asteroidal object of 20th magnitude discovered by LINEAR on January 13.22 was found to show a coma after posting on the NEOCP. The comet has a period of about 5.7 years and perihelion is at 1.3 AU in June.
    A/2008 BN18 [Spacewatch]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered by Spacewatch with the 1.8m reflector on January 30. 19th magnitude at discovery it has a period of around 100 years and perihelion is at 2.6 AU in June [MPEC 2008-C91, 2008 February 13, 14-day orbit]. The orbit is comparable to those of long period comets, and it will be interesting to see if it develops cometary activity as it approaches perihelion.
    2008 C1 (Chen-Gao)
    Tao Chen (Suzhou City, Jiangsu province, China) discovered a comet on a CCD image taken on February 1.67 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. He then found images of the comet on earlier exposures taken by Gao on January 30 (when the comet appeared at mag 14.0) and January 31 (mag 13.5). Gao obtained confirming images on February 2 (showing that its brightness increase had continued to mag 12.0). The discovery was confirmed by numerous observers following posting on the NEOCP, and announced in IAUC 8915 [2008 February 3].

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-H03 [2008 April 17] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000017 and +0.000481 (+/- 0.000061) AU^-1, respectively.
    The small "original" value suggests that this comet has not made a previous visit to the inner solar system and is a "new" comet from the Oort cloud.

    The rapid rise in brightness described by the discoverers is not entirely consistent with the preliminary orbit. Subsequently published discovery magnitudes are however fainter, and visual observations suggest that the comet was around 13th magnitude. The comet reached perihelion in mid April at 1.3 AU. Visual observations in March suggested that the comet was around 10th magnitude, but was quite large and diffuse. By late April it had become poorly placed for easy observation from the UK and is now fading.

    33 observations received so far suggest a preliminary light curve of m = 6.9 + 5 log d + 21.3 log r.

    Observations in ICQ format, last observation 2008 April, updated 2008 May.


    2008 C2 (196P/Tichy)
    M. Tichy and J. Ticha, Klet Observatory, recovered comet P/2000 U6 (cf. IAUC 7515) on CCD images obtained on February 3rd with the 1.06-m KLENOT Telescope. They subsequently identified earlier images from January 11. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 54167 is Delta(T) = -0.16 day.
    2008 C3 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 February 3.
    2008 C9 (SOHO)(IAUC 8953, 2008 June 14)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 February 15.
    2008 CL94 (Lemmon)
    An asteroid discovered during the course of the Mt Lemmon survey on 2008 February 8 has been shown to be cometary. It has a 15 year period and was at perihelion at 5.4 AU in 2006 July.
    A/2008 DS83 [Steward]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered at the Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak with the 0.9m reflector on February 24.40. 20th magnitude at discovery it has a period of 5.8 years and perihelion is at 1.38 AU in early August [MPEC 2008-K42, 2008 May 27]. The object can pass within 0.2 AU of Jupiter and 0.4 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.
    2008 E1 (Catalina)
    An apparently asteroidal object of 19th magnitude discovered during the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68-m Schmidt on March 2.14 was found to show a coma after posting on the NEOCP. Numerous observers, including Peter Birtwhistle, remarking on the cometary appearance.

    Further observations showed that the comet has a period of around 35 years, reaching perihelion at 4.8 AU in August.


    2008 E2 (197P/LINEAR)
    After posting an asteroidal object discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on the NEOCP Sergio Foglia suggested an identity with comet 2003 KV2 (LINEAR), indicating a correction of Delta(T) = +0.8 day to the prediction by Nakano on MPC 56801.
    2008 E3 (Garradd)
    Gordon Garradd discovered an 18th magnitude comet on images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on March 5.78, the object being diffuse and 20" in diameter on images from Mar. 7.8 UT. The comet reaches perihelion at 5.5 AU in August.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-K06 [2008 May 17] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000253 and +0.000852 (+/- 0.000049) AU^-1, respectively.
    The moderate "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 E7 (SOHO)(IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Hua Su on 2008 March 5. The inclination of the orbit is similar to Kreutz group comets but perihelion is at 0.055 AU.
    A/2008 ED69 [Catalina]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt on March 11.50. 20th magnitude at discovery it has a period of around 5 years and perihelion is at 0.72 AU in early July [MPEC 2008-E105, 2008 March 12 & MPCORB, 18-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.2 AU of Jupiter and 0.3 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.

    Peter Jenniskens suggests that it may be a major fragment of the object that formed the kappa Cygnids meteor shower. Work with Jeremey Vaubaillon suggests a formation date for the shower between 4000 and 1600 BC.


    2008 FK75 (Lemmon-Siding Spring)
    The Mt Lemmon survey discovered a 19th magnitude asteroidal object on March 31.40 that was designated 2008 FK75. Siding Spring discovered a 19th magnitude object on July 1.43 and it was posted on the NEOCP before the identity was found. Other observers noted a slight coma. The comet reached perihelion at 4.51 AU in 2010 September.
    A/2008 FF5 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered from Mt Lemmon with the 1.5m reflector on March 28.32. It has a period of 3.3 years and perihelion was at 0.08 AU in mid February 2008. [MPEC 2008-F50, 2008 March 29 & MPCORB, 2-day orbit]. In the current orbit it can approach to 0.008 AU of the Earth. The object is small, with an absolute magnitude of 23.
    2008 G1 (Gibbs)
    Alex Gibbs discovered a 19th magnitude comet on images taken with the Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m reflector on April 7.36. It was soon confirmed by astrometric observers following posting on the NEOCP. It will reach perihelion at 4.0 AU in 2009 January. The orbit is a long period ellipse.
    2008 G2 (P/Shoemaker)
    Whilst examining single-night observations of minor planets from April 10 reported by the Catalina Sky Survey to the Minor Planet Center, T. B. Spahr identified a candidate for comet P/1994 J3 = 1994k = 1994 XXVIII (Shoemaker, a.k.a. Shoemaker 4; cf. IAUC 5991, 5998, etc.). Brian Marsden then identified a corresponding candidate in the Catalina data from April 1. In each case the observer was R. A. Kowalski, and nothing was reported about the object's appearance. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 56803 (ephemeris on MPC 60734) is -1.7 days. [From CBET 1347, 2008 April 22]. This was again first announced in a CBET. The comet was around 19th magnitude at recovery and is near its brightest for this opposition. It reaches perihelion in 2009 April.
    2008 H1 (LINEAR)
    An apparently asteroidal object of 18th magnitude discovered by LINEAR on April 18.35 was found to show a coma and tail after posting on the NEOCP. The comet was at perihelion at 2.76 AU in mid March. Unusually the discovery was first announced in a Central Bureau Electronic Telegram (1343) rather than in an IAUC.

    Early orbit computations by Hirohisa Sato allowed the possibility of an elliptic orbit, with a period of around 200 years and this was subsequently confirmed, the latest orbit having an eccentricity of 0.95 and a period of around 350 years.


    2008 J1 (Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered a 14th magnitude comet during the course of the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68-m Schmidt on May 2.46. It was confirmed by many other CCD observers. The comet is predicted to reach perihelion at 1.72 AU in mid July, and will brighten a little.

    Orbit computation by Hirohisa Sato suggested that the orbit was a long period ellipse, and the latest orbit gives a period of around 2000 years. The comet could reach 11th magnitude around the time of perihelion.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-N38 [2008 July 15] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.006961 and +0.006426 (+/- 0.000017) AU^-1, respectively.
    The large "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.

    37 observations received so far suggest a preliminary light curve of m = 5.1 + 5 log d + 17.6 log r

    Observations in ICQ format, last observation 2008 June, updated 2008 July.


    2008 J2 (P/Beshore)
    Ed Beshore discovered a 14th magnitude comet with the Mt Lemmon 1.5-m reflector on May 6.47. It was confirmed by many other CCD observers.

    Orbit computation by Hirohisa Sato suggested that the orbit was of short period. The comet was at perihelion at 2.41 AU in late March and has a period of 6.5 years. It will fade. It is a member of the "Main Belt Comet" family.


    2008 J3 (P/McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered an 18th magnitude comet on May 10.69 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The comet is at perihelion at 2.29 AU in mid March 2009 and has a period of 7.7 years.
    2008 J4 (McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered another comet on May 10.79, of 17th magnitude on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The preliminary orbit gives perihelion at 0.44 AU in mid June. Although the comet could brighten to 11th magnitude around the time of perihelion, it is both intrinsically very faint and poorly placed for observation and will not be visible from the UK.

    Images obtained by Michal Jaeger on May 28 show the comet as a large, faint patch without central condensation. He suggests that the comet may have disintegrated. The most recent astrometric observations are from May 25.


    2008 J5 (Garradd)
    Gordon Garradd discovered a 17th magnitude comet on May 13.73 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The comet was at perihelion in early April at 1.96 AU. The orbit is a long period ellipse of around 600 years.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-N41 [2008 July 15] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.014802 and +0.014657 (+/- 0.000076) AU^-1, respectively.
    The large "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 J6 (Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered a 15th magnitude comet during the course of the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68-m Schmidt on May 14.46. It was confirmed by many other CCD observers. The comet was at perihelion in mid April at 2.00 AU.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-N42 [2008 July 15] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000031 and -0.000474 (+/- 0.000050) AU^-1, respectively.
    The small "original" value suggests that this comet has not made a previous visit to the inner solar system, and is a "new" comet from the Oort cloud.
    A/2003 JC11 [Kitt Peak] is an asteroid, of 21st magnitude, discovered by J V Scotti with the 0.9-m telescope at the Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak on 2003 May 1.40. It is in a 5.3 year orbit, with perihelion at 1.35 AU and an eccentricity of 0.56. It was at perihelion at the end of November and will fade. [MPEC 2003-J35, 2003 May 6, 5-day orbit] The orbit is typical of a Jupiter family comet, though there have been no recent close approaches to either Jupiter or the Earth.

    It was refound as 2008 JL14, also at Kitt Peak. The linked orbit has a period of 5.0 years, with perihelion at 1.28 AU in mid December 2007. The earth MOID is 0.46 AU. [MPEC 2008-O29, 2008 July 26]


    A/2008 JS14 [Siding Spring]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered during the Siding Spring Survey with the 0.5m Uppsala Schmidt on May 6.78. It has a period of 40 years and perihelion was at 3.0 AU in mid June 2008. [MPEC 2008-O30, 2008 July 26, 80-day orbit].
    2008 K10 (P/SOHO) [IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26]
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 May 31. The original orbit on MPEC 2008-O16 [2008 July 22], gave a retrograde orbit. On the basis of an identification by Rainer Kracht, Brian Marsden has computed a linked orbit with 2004 E2 and 1999 X3, which has a period of 4.2 years and a low inclination. Brian Marsden comments on MPEC 2008-S49 [2008 September 24]
    The identification is by R. Kracht. The observations, all obtained with the LASCO C2 coronagraph, are on MPEC 2006-L20, 2004-M42 and 2008-O16. The The object passed 0.058 AU from the earth on 2000 Jan. 13, 0.032 AU from Mars on 2004 May 19 and 1.17 AU from Jupiter on 2003 Feb. 1.

    A/2008 KB12 [Andrushivka]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered from the Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory with the 0.6m reflector on May 29.95. It has a period of 5.1 years and perihelion was at 1.17 AU in mid May 2008. [MPEC 2008-L01, 2008 June 1, 2-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.5 AU of Jupiter and 0.2 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets. The object is small, with an absolute magnitude of 21.
    A/2008 KV42 [Mauna Kea]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered from Mauna Kea with the 3.5m Canada-France-Hawaii reflector on May 31.35. It is in a retrograde orbit with a period of around 300 years and perihelion is at 20 AU in 2034. [MPEC 2008-O02, 2008 July 16, 39-day orbit]. The object is cometary sized, with an absolute magnitude of 9.
    2008 L1 (200P/Larsen)
    J. V. Scotti recovered comet P/1997 V1 (Larsen) with the Spacewatch 1.8-m f/2.7 reflector at Kitt Peak on June 9.44. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 54170 is Delta T = -2.0 days. This is the 200th comet to be numbered, although several SOHO comets have been observed to return and not numbered.
    2008 L2 (P/Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered an 18th magnitude comet on CCD images taken with the 0.68-m Catalina Schmidt telescope on June 12.44. It will brighten a little towards perihelion. Hirohisa Sato suggested a short period orbit. This is confirmed by the latest orbit, which gives the period as 15 years, with perihelion at 2.3 AU in mid August.
    2008 L3 (Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered another comet the following night, on CCD images taken with the 0.68-m Catalina Schmidt telescope on June 13.28. It was 19th magnitude. The latest orbit gives perihelion at 2.0 AU in late 2008 April.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-O45 [2008 July 29] that further [astrometric] observations of this comet are very desirable.


    A/2008 MR1 [LINEAR]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered by LINEAR with the 1.0m reflector on June 30.39. 20th magnitude at discovery it has a period of 7.6 years and perihelion is at 1.23 AU in late August [MPEC 2008-N04, 2008 July 1, 1-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.2 AU of Jupiter (at both nodes) and 0.25 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.
    2008 N1 (Holmes)
    An apparently asteroidal object of 20th magnitude discovered on July 1.33 by amateur astronmer, Robert Holmes of Charleston, Illinois with a 0.40-m f5.8 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector was found to show a slightly elongated coma by other observers, including Peter Birtwhistle. The comet is due to reach perihelion at 2.8 AU in 2009 September.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-R70 [2008 September 15] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.001193 and +0.001252 (+/- 0.000033) AU^-1, respectively.
    The large "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 N10 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 July 11.
    2008 O2 (P/McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered an 18th magnitude comet on July 28.69 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. Although the initial parabolic orbit looked promising for visual observation, as more observations accumulated it became clear that it was a periodic comet with perihelion at 3.8 AU in 2009 April. The period is around 9.5 years.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-Q07 [2008 August 18] that the orbit indicates a very close approach to Jupiter (to 0.1 AU) in 2003 and that the previous perihelion distance was around 5.8 AU.


    2008 O3 (P/Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered a 19th magnitude comet during the course of the Mt Lemmon Survey with the 1.5m reflector on July 29.46. The comet reached perihelion at 2.5 AU in early June and has a period of around 24 years.
    2008 O4 (SOHO)(IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Michal Kusiak on 2008 July 25.
    2008 O6 (SOHO)(IAUC 8987, 2008 October 2)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C3 images by Hua Su on 2008 July 17.
    2008 O7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Bo Zhou on 2008 July 18.
    A/2008 OB9 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered from Mt Lemmon with the 1.5m reflector on July 29.34. It has a period of 6.6 years and perihelion is at 0.76 AU in late January 2009. [MPEC 2008-O64, 2008 July 31, 2-day orbit]. It can pass 0.7 AU from Jupiter.
    2008 P1 (Garradd)
    Gordon Garradd discovered a 17th magnitude comet on images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on August 13.72. The comet reached perihelion at 3.9 AU in July 2009.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-U16 [2008 October 20] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000132 and +0.000222 (+/- 0.000047) AU^-1, respectively.
    The moderate "original" value suggests that this comet may have made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    A/2008 PJ3 [Siding Spring]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered during the Siding Spring Survey with the 0.5m Uppsala Schmidt on August 3.79. It has a period of 4.6 years and perihelion is at 0.39 AU in early October 2008. [MPEC 2008-P27, 2008 August 5, 1-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.5 AU of Jupiter and 0.21 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.
    2008 Q1 (Maticic)
    An 18th magnitude moving object of stellar appearance discovered by Stanislav Maticic on four 40-s R-band CCD images taken with the 60-cm f/3.3 Cichocki robotic telescope in strong moonlight in the course of the Comet and Asteroid Search Program at Crni Vrh Observatory was found by other observers to show cometary appearance. The comet reaches perihelion at 3.0 AU in 2008 December.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-U17 [2008 October 20] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.001786 and +0.001851 (+/- 0.000023) AU^-1, respectively.
    The large "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 Q2 (P/Ory)
    An 18th magnitude apparently asteroidal object discovered by Michel Ory of Delemont, Switzerland, on CCD images obtained with a 0.61-m f/3.9 reflector at Vicques has been found to show cometary characteristics after posting on the NEOCP. The comet has a period of 5.8 years with perihelion at 1.4 AU in mid October. Although it has a perihelic opposition it will not get brighter than around 16th magnitude.

    Michel Ory is a Swiss amateur astronomer and president of the Société jurassienne d'astronomie, which has a well equipped observatory in the foothills of the Jura.

    The comet passed 0.3 AU from Jupiter in November 2005, before which the perihelion distance was a little larger.


    2008 Q3 (Garradd)
    Gordon Garradd discovered a 19th magnitude comet on images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on August 27.63. The comet reaches perihelion at 1.8 AU in June 2009.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2009-G07 [2009 April 3] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are +0.000283 and +0.000744 (+/- 0.000006) AU^-1, respectively.
    The large "original" value suggests that this comet has made a previous visit to the inner solar system.
    2008 Q4 (201P/LONEOS)
    Comet 2001 R1 (P/LONEOS) was recovered by Michael Jaeger from Stixendorf, Austria on August 31.09 as a 17th magnitude object. It was confirmed by Giovanni Sostero and team from the Skylive Observatory, Catania, Italy the following night. The comet is a month past perihelion and will fade. Following posting of the recovery on the comet-ml Maik Meyer located NEAT images on frames from 2001 August. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 54169 is Delta T = -0.42 day.
    2008 QP20 (P/LINEAR-Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered an 18th magnitude comet on CCD images taken with the 0.68-m Catalina Schmidt telescope on September 23.63, which was confirmed as cometary by many observers following posting on the NEOCP. K Smalley of the MPC then identified the comet with an asteroidal object found by LINEAR on August 25.40. The comet is at perihelion at 1.7 AU in early November and has a period of 6.5 years.
    2008 R1 (259P/Garradd)
    Gordon Garradd discovered a 19th magnitude comet on images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring on September 2.50. It will remain a faint object.

    Few observations of the comet are being made, but those available suggest a periodic orbit of 4.5 years, with perihelion at 1.8 AU in July.

    Akimasa Nakamura notes that it has the smallest aphelion distance (3.7 AU) of any comet and Carl Hergenrother notes:

    P/2008 R1 (Garradd) is the latest example of a 'Main-Belt Comet' or an 'Activated Asteroid'.

    Current theory suggests that traditional comets formed between 5 AU and the edge of the proto-solar disk. Most of these proto-comets were absorbed into the rapidly growing outer planets. As the outer planets migrated, the remainder of the proto-comet population was either thrown out of the solar system, thrown into the Oort Cloud, or trapped in the Kuiper Belt / Scattered Disk Population. These populations now give us our usual assortment of comets, the Jupiter-Family Comets, Halley-types and Long-Period Comets.

    The Main-Belt Comets are volatile-rich bodies that either formed in the asteroid belt or were trapped there during the era of planet migration. One theory, the Nice theory, suggests that all carbonaceous asteroids (C,B,D,F,G type asteroids) in the Main Belt and Jupiter Trojan population originally formed between 5 AU and the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt. This means that objects such as Ceres and Pallas are related to Kuiper Belt Objects and were trapped in stable orbits much closer to the Sun.

    There are at least 5 known Main Belt Comets: 133P/Elst-Pizarro 176P/LINEAR P/2005 U1 (Read) P/2008 J2 (Beshore) P/2008 R1 (Garradd)

    It is possible that many asteroids in the outer part of the Main Belt are capable of occasional cometary activity.

    There are also objects on Near-Earth asteroid orbits that more likely originated in the Main Belt rather than from the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud, such as: 2P/Encke 107P/Wilson-Harrington (3200) Phaethon

    The main point is there may no longer be a clear cut boundary between comets and asteroids. Many objects in the solar system have moved a long way from where they originally formed.

    Henry Hsieh's research really expanded our knowledge of these objects. He has a good website devoted to his work.

    The comet was observed in 2010, 2011 and 2012, so was not given a designation for the 2013 return, which has perihelion at 1.8 AU in January, with a period of 4.5 years.


    2008 R2 (202P/Scotti)
    Jim Scotti recovered his comet (P/2001 X2) on Spacewatch images taken with the 1.8-m reflector at Kitt Peak on September 5.43 as a 21st magnitude object. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 56802 is Delta(T) = -0.15 day. Pre-recovery images were found on Mt Lemmon frames from 2007 September and October, and Spacewatch from 2008 August.

    The comet passed 0.67 AU from Jupiter on 1960 March 24.

    An orbit by Syuichi Nakano, published in 2004, linked the comet with asteroid 1929 WW, however some of the 1929 positions were unsatisfactory. These have now been re-measured, and the identification confirmed, indeed the 1929 object does appear cometary on closer examination. Perihelion was on 1930 January 8.7.


    2008 R3 (LINEAR)
    A 19th magnitude asteroidal object discovered by LINEAR on September 7.13 was found to show cometary characteristics after posting on the NEOCP. The comet is due to reach perihelion at 1.9 AU in November. It is periodic, with a period of around 80 years.
    2008 R4 (203P/Korlevic)
    Gareth Williams identified images of 1999 WJ7 in incidental astrometry taken with the 0.9-m Spacewatch telescope on September 3.24. The comet was 20th magnitude, with perihelion in 2010 February. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 59598 is Delta(T) = -0.3 day.
    2008 R5 (204P/LINEAR-NEAT)
    Gareth Williams has also identified images of 2001 TU80 in incidental astrometry taken with the 1.8-m Spacewatch telescope on September 8.43. The comet is at perihelion in December. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 54171 is Delta(T) = -0.3 day.
    2008 R6 (205P/Giacobini)
    Koichi Itagaki (Teppo-cho, Yamagata) and Hiroshi Kaneda (Minami-ku, Sapporo) discovered a 13th magnitude comet on unfiltered CCD patrol frames taken on September 10.56 UT using a 0.21-m f/3 reflector. A confirming unfiltered CCD image was taken subsequently with a 0.60-m f/5.7 reflector at Yamagata, where the comet was diffuse with strong condensation, with a coma diameter of about 25" and a 2' tail toward the east-southeast.

    Maik Meyer, Limburg, Germany, suggested that the comet was identical to comet 1896 R2 (D/Giacobini), which had not been seen since January 1897 and for which a prediction by Nakano gave T = 2008 September 9.89. This prediction was included in the BAA listing for the comets expected in 2008. Richard Buckley made a prediction for its return in 1975, which was published in the Journal in 1977. The identity has been confirmed by Nakano, who notes that the comet has made 17 revolutions and passed only 0.51 AU from the earth on 1962 September 9 and 0.81 AU from Jupiter on 1992 January 14. The linked orbit shows that the comet was at perihelion on September 10.08.

    The fact that the comet was not recovered on previous occasions, and that it is now past its brightest for this return, suggests that the comet might have been found in outburst, although it was expected to reach 11th magnitude based on the discovery apparition. Further confirmation of this suggestion was made when Douglas T. Durig and K. N. Hatchett, Cordell-Lorenz Observatory, Sewanee, Tennassee, USA reported observations of two additional components, which have perihelion times differing by Delta(T) = +0.014 and +0.133 day.


    2008 R8 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 September 4.
    2008 S1 (P/Catalina-McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered a 17th magnitude comet on September 17.41 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. Brian Marsden subsequently linked the comet to asteroid 2008 JK, discovered during the Catalina Sky Survey on May 2.34. The comet was therefore renamed from McNaught to Catalina-McNaught. The improved orbit shows that the comet approached to 0.18 AU from Jupiter in 1990 August, before which its perihelion distance was 1.5 AU. The comet was near perihelion at 1.2 AU and has a period of 6.7 years.
    2008 S2 (P/SOHO)(IAUC )
    Rainer Kracht noted that the non group SOHO comet discovered in C2 images from 2008 September 17 by him the following day may be linked to 2004 X7 (SOHO). He also suggested a linkage to 2001 D1 (SOHO). If so this would be another very short period comet, with a period of around 3.8 years. Sebastian Hoenig suggests it may be a member of the group with 1:3 resonance with Jupiter.

    Brian Marsden published a linked orbit on MPEC 2008-S82 [2008 September 27] and notes:

    The object passed 1.29 AU from Jupiter on 2003 October 14.

    2008 S3 (Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered an 18th magnitude comet during the course of the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68-m Schmidt on September 29.49. The comet reached perihelion at 8.0 AU in June 2011. At discovery it was a distant object around 9.9 AU from the Sun. The current orbit is strongly hyperbolic.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-X59 [2008 December 8] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are -0.000501 and -0.000490 (+/- 0.000507) AU^-1, respectively.
    The "original" value suggests that this comet is weakly tied to the solar system, but membership of the Oort cloud is not ruled out.
    A/2008 SE82 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered with the Mt Lemmon 1.5m reflector on 2008 September 24. It has a period of 87 years and perihelion was at 3.2 AU in 2008 February. [MPEC 2009-X12, 2009 December 3, 61 day orbit]. Aphelion is at 36 AU. It has a Tisserand criterion value of 2.4.
    A/2008 SB85 [Steward]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered at the Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak, with the 0.9m reflector on September 26.31. It has a period of 6.6 years and perihelion was at 2.1 AU in late July 2008. It has an inclination of 75 degrees. [MPEC 2008-S86, 2008 September 29, 3-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.75 AU of Jupiter.
    A/2008 SO218 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered with the Mt Lemmon 1.5m reflector on 2008 September 30.43. It has a retrograde orbit with a period of 23.1 years and perihelion is at 3.5 AU in early January 2010. It has an inclination of 170 degrees. [MPEC 2008-T84, 2008 October 7, MPEC 2009-Q34, 2009 August 20]. Aphelion is at 12.7 AU and it can pass within 0.7 AU of Saturn and 0.8 AU of Jupiter. It has a Tisserand criterion value of 2.7. It is now (August 2009) 3.7 AU from the Sun, but has not yet shown any cometary activity.
    2008 T1 (P/Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered an 18th magnitude comet with the Mt Lemmon 1.5-m reflector on October 1.35. Several observers confirmed the cometary nature, including Peter Birtwhistle and Rolando Ligustri Prediscovery Spacewatch images were found from September 2 and 21. The comet was at perihelion at 3.0 AU in late February and has a period of 8.7 years. Brian Marsden notes that the comet made a close approach to Jupiter in April 2003, with a minimum distance 0.03 AU. Further calculations by Hirohisa Sato show that it approached to 0.0191 AU of Jupiter on April 8, 2003. Prior to the encounter the comet had perihelion at 6.2 AU and a period of 22 years.
    2008 T2 (Cardinal)
    An apparently asteroidal object of 16th magnitude found by Canadian astronomer Rob Cardinal of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, with the University of Calgary 0.50-m f/1.0 reflector at Priddis, Canada on 2008 October 1.16 was found to show cometary characteristics by other observers after posting on the NEPCP. The comet reached perihelion at 1.20 AU in mid June 2009.

    An image taken by Martin Mobberley on 2009 January 18.8 suggested that the comet was about 12th magnitude. It had faded below 14th magnitude by 2009 December.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2008-X60 [2008 December 8] that

    The "original" and "future" barycentric values of 1/a are -0.000018 and +0.000245 (+/- 0.000043) AU^-1, respectively.
    The small "original" value suggests that this comet is on its first visit to the inner solar system.

    56 observations received so far suggest a preliminary light curve of m = 6.5 + 5 log d + 11.9 log r


    2008 T3 (206P/Barnard-Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered a 17th magnitude comet in a dense part of the Milky Way during the course of the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68-m Schmidt on October 7.22. Maik Meyer suggested an identity with D/1892 T1 (Barnard) and Gareth Williams then re-reduced the published observations. Williams and Nakano then computed a linked orbit which shows that the comet made 20 revolutions between 1892 and 2008, passing about 0.3-0.4 AU of Jupiter in 1922 October, 1934 August, and 2005 August. The comet is at perihelion at 1.15 AU in late October and has a period of 5.8 years.

    The comet was the first one to be discovered photographically, by E E Barnard from the Mount Wilson Observatory on 1892 October 12. It was very faint and only followed until December 8. The apparition was not a particularly favourable one and the comet was last observed a few days before perihelion. The calculated orbit suggested that no favourable returns were likely for some years and the comet was lost. Richard Buckley published a paper on missing comets in the BAA Journal in 1977 (BAAJ, 87, No3) and gave a prediction for a return in 1976.


    2008 T4 (P/Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered an 18th magnitude comet on CCD images taken with the 0.68-m Catalina Schmidt telescope on October 8.39. The latest orbit gives a period of 9.4 years with perihelion at 2.51 AU in late December.
    2008 T5 (207P/NEAT)
    Ken-ichi Kadota, Ageo, Saitama-ken, Japan recovered comet 2001 J1 (P/NEAT) on CCD images obtained with his 0.25-m f/6 reflector on October 15.78. Confirming observations were also made by H. Abe (Yatsuka-cho, Shimane-ken, Japan, 0.26-m reflector). The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 54170 is Delta(T) = -0.6 day.
    2008 T7 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 October 4.
    2008 U1 (208P/McMillan)
    Robert McMillan discovered a 19th magnitude comet with the Spacewatch 1.8-m reflector on October 19.20. Further prediscovery images back to September 20 were found in Spacewatch imagery. The comet has a period of 8.1 years and was at perihelion at 2.5 AU in mid May.

    In December, S Nakano linked the comet with previously unreported observations of an 18th magnitude object obtained by LONEOS in September and October 2000. This return is now designated 2000 S7. The new orbit shows that the comet passed 0.18 AU from Jupiter on 2004 July 8.


    2008 V5 (SOHO)(IAUC )
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Jiangao Ruan on 2008 November 8.
    A/2008 VU4 [Catalina]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt on November 7.40. 18th magnitude at discovery it has a period of 5.1 years and perihelion was at 0.54 AU in early September [MPEC 2008-V43, 2008 November 8]. The object can pass within 0.4 AU of Jupiter and 0.19 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.
    A/2008 VH14 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered with the Mt Lemmon 1.5m reflector on November 8.22. It has a period of 4.9 years and perihelion is at 1.00 AU in late December. [MPEC 2008-V49, 2008 November 10]. It can pass within 0.5 AU of Jupiter and 0.03 AU of the Earth.
    2008 WZ96 (LINEAR)
    An 18th magnitude apparently asteroidal object was discovered by LINEAR on November 30.06 and designated 2008 WZ96. It was refound by LINEAR on December 28.07 and a linked orbit calculated by the MPC. Subsequently it was found to show cometary characteristics by other astrometrists. The comet was at perihelion in late 2009 January at 1.65 AU, and Brian Marsden notes that it passed 0.36 AU from Jupiter in 2006 April.
    A/2008 WJ14 [Mt Lemmon]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered with the Mt Lemmon 1.5m reflector on November 21.36. It has a period of 7.6 years and perihelion was at 1.05 AU in mid November. [MPEC 2008-W39, 2008 November 21]. It can pass within 0.4 AU of Jupiter.
    2008 X1 (211P/Hill)
    Rik Hill discovered a 17th magnitude comet on CCD images taken with the 0.68-m Catalina Schmidt telescope on December 4.34. The comet reaches perihelion at 1.6 in May 2009.

    Calculations by Hirohisa Sato allow for the possibility of an elliptic orbit of period 11 years and perihelion at 2.0 AU in early June 2009. This was confirmed by subsequent orbits, which give a period of 6.7 years and perihelion 2.4 AU in 2009 May.

    With an improved orbit, Maik Meyer subsequently found previously unidentified images of the comet on frames taken by NEAT on 2003 March 24 and LONEOS on 2003 April 1. The comet was given the designation 2003 F6 at this return, which had perihelion on 2002 August 19.1.


    2008 X2 (209P/LINEAR)
    Gary Hug recovered 2004 CB (P/LINEAR) on December 4.39 as an essentially stellar object of 20th magnitude. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 56803 is Delta(T) = +0.16 day.
    2008 X3 (LINEAR)
    An 18th magnitude asteroidal object discovered by LINEAR on December 4.45 was found to show cometary characteristics after posting on the NEOCP. The comet was at perihelion in October at 1.9 AU.

    Hirohisa Sato has calculated an improved elliptical orbit, which suggests a period of around 250 years. The elliptical orbit was confirmed on a subsequent MPEC, which gives a period of around 290 years.


    2008 X4 (210P/Christensen)
    Alan Watson found a 10th magnitude comet on SECCHI HI1-B images taken on December 8.24 Rainer Kracht made measurements of the object's position and computed a parabolic orbit, from which Maik Meyer suggested identity with comet P/2003 K2. The indicated correction to the prediction on MPC 56802 is Delta(T) = -22 days.

    The comet will pased through the SOHO LASCO C3 field between December 20 and 26. It will emerge into the morning sky for UK observers around January 10, by which time it will have faded to around 10.5. It will fade quite rapidly.

    4 observations received so far suggest an uncorrected preliminary light curve of m = 13.9 + 5 log d + 10.7 log r


    A/2008 XE2 [Catalina]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt on December 4.38. 19th magnitude at discovery it has a period of around 6.7 years and perihelion was at 1.3 AU in late November [MPEC 2008-X46, 2008 December 5, 1-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.3 AU of Jupiter and 0.33 AU of the earth. This type of orbit is typical of Jupiter family comets.
    2008 Y1 (P/Boattini)
    Andrea Boattini discovered an 18th magnitude comet during the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt on December 22.09. Several observers confirmed the cometary nature. The comet has an elliptical orbit with period of around 10 years and perihelion in late February at 1.3 AU. The comet will brighten a little.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2009-E04 [2009 March 1] that further [astrometric] observations of this comet are very desirable.


    2008 Y2 (P/Gibbs)
    A R Gibbs discovered an 18th magnitude comet during the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt on December 31.37. Several observers confirmed the cometary nature. The comet was at perihelion at 1.6 AU in late January and has a period of 6.8 years.
    2008 Y3 (P/McNaught)
    Rob McNaught discovered a 16th magnitude comet on December 31.64 on CCD images taken with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The initial orbit suggested that the comet would reach perihelion at 1.9 AU in 2009 November, when it might be within visual range of large telescopes.

    Unfortunately further observations suggested a radically different orbit. It is likely that perihelion was at over 4 AU in 2008. The latest MPEC gives perihelion at 3.9 AU in 2008 April. Computations by both Hirohisa Sato and Kenji Muraoka suggest a short period orbit of around 25 years, with perihelion at 4.5 AU in autumn 2008. The latest orbit gives perihelion at 4.4 AU in mid January 2009 and a period of around 23 years.

    Brian Marsden notes on MPEC 2009-A43 [2009 January 7] that further [astrometric] observations of this comet are desirable.


    2008 Y12 (SOHO)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 2008 December 23.  In 2012, further images were found in STEREO HI-1A frames from December 21 and 22, which lead to an improved orbit.  Michal Kusiak notes that there is a strong similarity to the orbit of the Southern Delta Aquarids, and Rainer Kracht suggested that the comet may have a short period.
    2008 Y14 (SOHO)
    This was a non-group comet discovered in C2 images by Jiangao Ruan on 2008 December 28.
    A/2008 YB3 [Siding Spring]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered during the Siding Spring Survey with the 0.5m Uppsala Schmidt on December 18.61. It has a period of around 80 years, a retrograde orbit and perihelion is at 5.5 AU in February 2011. [MPEC 2008-Y38, 2008 December 22, 4-day orbit].
    A/2008 YD29 [Steward]
    This unusual asteroid was discovered at the Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak, with the 0.9m reflector on December 30.08. It has a period of 5.7 years and perihelion is at 1.2 AU in 2009 January. [MPEC 2008-Y78, 2008 December 30, 1-day orbit]. The object can pass within 0.25 AU of the Earth and 0.4 AU of Jupiter.
    Ephemerides of current comets are available on the CBAT ephemeris page and positions of newly discovered comets are on the NEO confirmation page.
    More information on LINEAR. A list of comets discovered by selected search programs.
    The Northumberland refractor is the telescope that was used in the search for Neptune. It now has a 0.30-m f20 doublet lens which gives a stellar limiting magnitude of around 15 at the zenith on good nights. The Thorrowgood refractor was built in 1864 and has a 0.20-m f14 doublet lens.
    Published by Jonathan Shanklin. Jon Shanklin - jds@ast.cam.ac.uk