BAA Comet Section : 2008 Kreutz & other group comets

Updated 2010 December 27


COMET C/2008 A3 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8923, an additional tiny, very faint (mag
about 7.5) comet was found on SOHO website images that is a member
of the Marsden group ("discovery" observation tabulated below);
according to K. Battams, it may have been "borderline diffuse", and
it maintained a very constant brightness level until quite near the
end, when it started to fade.  R. Kracht suggested the identity of
C/2008 A3 with C/2002 R1 (cf. IAUC 7969, MPEC 2002-R57), and B. G.
Marsden published a linked orbit on MPEC 2008-B61 that yields T =
1997 Apr. 19.0 for its previous (unobserved) perihelion passage.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 A3    Jan. 15.588   19 52.2  -20 39   C2     RK   2008-B61


COMETS C/2008 D1, C/2008 D2, C/2008 D3, C/2008 D4 (STEREO)
     K. Battams and K. Baldwin have reported measurements, reduced
and analyzed by B. G. Marsden, for four Kreutz-sungrazing comets
found on images obtained with NASA's new "Solar-Terrestrial
Relations Observatory" (STEREO), which involves two satellites
ultimately to be located 45 deg ahead (STEREO-A) and 45 deg behind
(STEREO-B) the earth in its orbit.  The SECCHI suite of instruments
on each satellite contains two coronagraphs ('COR2' having bandpass
650-750 nm and resolution 15"/pixel) and a "Heliospheric Imager"
consisting of two telescopes ('HI1' having bandpass 650-750 nm and
resolution 35"/pixel).  The tabulated "discovery" observations
below are given in the same format as used for the SOHO comets (see
above); the 'C' under instrumentation denotes the 'COR2' instrument
on both STEREO-A and -B, while the 'HI' flag denotes the 'HI1-A'
instrument only.  C/2008 D1, C/2008 D2, and C/2008 D4 were very
faint (mag about 10-11 for the first and third objects, and about 9
for the second) and diffuse.  C/2008 D3 was of mag perhaps 7 with a
thin, faint tail in HI1-A images, and brighter (mag perhaps 3) with
a thin tail in COR2 images; this is the first near-sun comet to
have an orbit determined (cf. MPEC 2008-E58) using astrometry from
two well-separated spacecraft (now 0.76 AU apart).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 D1    Feb. 16.822   23 43.4  - 5 01   HI     AW   2008-E58
 C/2008 D2         19.461   23 55.6  - 4 05   HI     AW   2008-E58
 C/2008 D3         20.294    0 14.0  - 4 49   HI/C   AW   2008-E58
 C/2008 D4         20.933   23 58.9  - 3 23   HI     RK   2008-E58
[IAUC 8926, 2008 March 6]
COMET C/2008 F1 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8926, an additional apparent Meyer-group comet
has been found on SOHO website images; first appearing in images as
fairly bright (mag about 6) but fading fast, it was elongated in
the direction of motion (but not diffuse at all) -- typical for
Meyer-group objects.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 F1    Mar. 19.938    0 03.9  + 1 22   C2     RK   2008-F32
[IAUC 8932, 2008 April 9]
COMETS C/2008 B1-B4, C/2008 C3-C5, AND C/2008 E4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8932, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images; all are Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 C3 (no known group) and C/2008 E4 (Kracht group).  In the
tabulated column below for instrument, an asterisk (*) indicates
that astrometry was also measured and reduced from HI1 images
aboard the STEREO-A spacecraft.  C/2008 B1 was tiny, stellar, and
faint (mag about 7).  C/2008 B2 reached mag about 6 in H1A and C3
images and was just barely visible with a thin, faint tail in C2
images.  C/2008 B3, C/2008 B4, and C/2008 C4 were very faint (mag
7.5), the first and third being slightly diffuse and the second
being quite diffuse.  C/2008 C3 was stellar in appearance and
brightened slowly and gradually, reaching mag about 7 as it left
the field-of-view.  C/2008 C5 was also stellar in appearance,
reaching mag about 6.5.
     C/2008 E4 is described by K. Battams as "typically [for a
Kracht-group object] small, stellar, and faint (maybe peaking at
mag 7 as it entered the C2 coronagraph), fading fast as it neared
the sun".  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;
Kracht gave the previous perihelion date T = 1997 Feb. 14.9 but was
unable to locate the comet on C2 images from that time.  Linked
orbital elements (P = 5.52 yr) for 2002 and 2008 by B. G. Marsden
appear on MPEC 2008-F32.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 B1    Jan. 26.221   20 46.1  -21 03   C3     HS   2008-G59
 C/2008 B2         27.138   21 00.0  -21 43   C3/2*  AK   2008-G59
 C/2008 B3         28.696   20 57.9  -19 43   C3     HS   2008-G59
 C/2008 B4         29.904   21 03.8  -19 33   C3     BZ   2008-G59
 C/2008 C3    Feb.  3.146   21 02.9  -18 12   C2     RK   2008-G60
 C/2008 C4          3.821   21 22.3  -18 16   C3*    HS   2008-G60
 C/2008 C5          5.738   21 33.9  -17 30   C3*    AK   2008-G60
 C/2008 E4    Mar.  3.254   23 02.6  - 5 18   C2     HS   2008-F32
[IAUC 8933, 2008 April 10]
COMETS C/2008 C6, C/2008 C7, C/2008 C8, C/2008 C9 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8933, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images; all are Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 C9 (non-group).  C/2008 C6 (mag 7.5) and C/2008 C7 (mag 7)
were both stellar in appearance.  C/2008 C8 reached mag about 5.5
and appeared teardrop-shaped in C3 images, while it was a very
faint, thin streak in C2 images.  C/2008 C9 was marginally diffuse
and very small (mag about 7.5).  An asterisk in the instrumentation
column below indicates that astrometry was also obtained from
STEREO-A/SECCHI HI1 images (see IAUC 8926).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 C6    Feb.  7.696   21 36.9  -16 16   C3*    BZ   2008-L18
 C/2008 C7          9.196   21 47.1  -16 17   C3*    HS   2008-L18
 C/2008 C8         14.821   22 17.9  -15 38   C3/2   JS   2008-L18
 C/2008 C9         15.063   21 53.3  -11 33   C2     RK   2008-L18
[IAUC 8953, 2008 June 14]
COMETS C/2008 D5-D9 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8953, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images; all are Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 D6 (Meyer group) and C/2008 E7 (non-group).  C/2008 D5 and
C/2008 D7 were small, stellar in appearance, and of mag about 7.
C/2008 D6 was elongated but not diffuse (mag about 7).  C/2008 D8
was slightly diffuse and very faint (mag 7.5).  C/2008 D9 was
slightly diffuse and small (mag 7) in C3 images, but very diffuse
and very faint in C2 images.  An asterisk in the instrumentation
column below indicates that astrometry was also obtained from
STEREO-A/SECCHI HI1 images (see IAUC 8926).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 D5    Feb. 19.029   22 23.1  -12 41   C3     HS   2008-L19
 C/2008 D6         19.171   22 12.8  -10 00   C2     TH   2008-L19
 C/2008 D7         25.554   22 51.5  - 9 54   C3*    BZ   2008-L19
 C/2008 D8         24.554   22 43.7  -10 03   C3*    BZ   2008-L26
 C/2008 D9         29.238   22 08.4  - 9 00   C3/2*  BZ   2008-L26


COMETS C/2008 E5 AND C/2008 E6 (STEREO)
     Further to IAUC 8926, additional very faint (mag about 11)
Kreutz sungrazers have been found on STEREO website images:

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 E5    Mar.  5.517    0 54.2  + 1 44   HI     AW   2008-K29
 C/2008 E6         15.017    1 28.6  + 5 05   HI     RK   2008-K29
[IAUC 8955, 2008 June 20]
COMETS C/2008 E7-E9, C/2008 G3, AND C/2008 G4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8955, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images; all are Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 E7 (non-group).  C/2008 E8 was small, stellar in appearance,
and of mag about 7.  C/2008 E7 was visible in C3 images for a day
and a half (peaking at mag about 6 around Mar. 5.33 UT) before
cutting across the C2 field-of-view and fading out; it was basically
stellar in appearance, though it may have been slightly diffuse and
marginally elongated (when it was very faint) in C2 images.  C/2008
E9 was very faint (mag about 7-7.5) and slightly diffuse in C3
images, and very diffuse and elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 G3 was
very diffuse and very faint (mag about 8).  C/2008 G4 was small,
condensed, and teardrop-shaped (mag about 7).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 E7    Mar.  4.638   22 56.0  - 4 27   C3/2   HS   2008-L26
 C/2008 E8          7.071   23 30.0  - 6 03   C3*    HS   2008-L27
 C/2008 E9         12.029   23 45.8  - 3 58   C3/2*  BZ   2008-L27
 C/2008 G3    Apr.  1.979    0 55.3  + 4 20   C2     HS   2008-L27
 C/2008 G4          9.493    1 22.6  + 7 00   C2     MK   2008-L27
[IAUC 8956, 2008 June 20]
COMETS C/2008 G5 AND C/2008 G6 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8956, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 G5 (a Kreutz sungrazer) was
very diffuse, very faint (mag 8), and elongated.  C/2008 G6, which
was small and stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5), was suggested
by R. Kracht to be a return of the Kracht-group presumed-comet
C/2002 S11 (cf. IAUC 7991), and an orbit by B. G. Marsden on MPEC
2008-L29 links the two apparitions with an orbital period of about
5.54 yr.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 G5    Apr. 10.018    1 24.4  + 7 12   C2     MU   2008-L29
 C/2008 G6         12.921    1 31.5  + 9 25   C2     BZ   2008-L29
[IAUC 8957, 2008 July 3]
COMETS C/2008 H2-H5 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8957, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images; all are Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 H4 (Meyer group), which was small and elongated but not
diffuse (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 H2 was stellar in appearance and
very faint (mag about 8) but very long-lasting in the SOHO images.
C/2008 H3 was teardrop-shaped and quite bright (mag about 6) in C2
images.  C/2008 H5 was small with a short tail (mag about 6.5) in
C2 images.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 H2    Apr. 16.588    1 47.8  + 9 26   C2     HS   2008-L29
 C/2008 H3         16.721    1 52.0  + 9 16   C3/2   RM   2008-L29
 C/2008 H4         18.354    1 51.7  +12 32   C2     RK   2008-L47
 C/2008 H5         25.513    2 23.3  +11 56   C3/2   HS   2008-L47
[IAUC 8960, 2008 July 18]
COMETS C/2008 H6-H9 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8957 and 8960, additional Kreutz sungrazers
have been found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 H6 was very faint
(mag about 8) and diffuse.  C/2008 H7 was very diffuse (mag about
7.5-8) with a faint tail.  C/2008 H8 was extremely faint (mag about
8-8.5) and slightly diffuse.  C/2008 H9 was tiny and stellar in
appearance (mag about 8).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 H6    Apr. 27.188    2 25.7  +12 46   C2     EB   2008-L47
 C/2008 H7         29.830    2 35.4  +13 31   C2     MM   2008-L47
 C/2008 H8         30.881    2 39.1  +13 50   C2     MK   2008-L47
 C/2008 H9         21.688    2 06.3  +11 05   C2     HS   2008-M10
[IAUC 8961, 2008 July 28]
COMET C/2008 O1 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8961, a Kreutz sungrazing comet has been found
on SOHO-LASCO coronagraph C3 website images by H. Su (discovery
observation tabulated below); according to K. Battams, the object
is very small and essentially stellar in appearance with a hint of
elongation (mag about 7.5 on July 31.738 UT).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 O1    July 31.596    8 23.2  +16 01   C3     HS   2008-O67

This relatively bright Kreutz fragment might be observable during
the total solar eclipse on Aug. 1.39-1.47 near R.A. = 8h38m, Decl.
= +16.8 deg (equinox 2000.0).  The following very preliminary
parabolic orbital elements from 16 observations were published on
MPEC 2008-P01, together with two ephemerides to indicate the
uncertainty in the predicted position during totality.

     T = 2008 Aug.  1.68 TT           Peri. =  91.48
                                      Node  =  11.90    2000.0
     q = 0.0042 AU                    Incl. = 143.38
[IAUC 8962, 2008 August 1]
COMETS C/2008 J7-J12 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8962, additional apparent comets have been
found on SOHO website images, all Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 J10 and C/2008 J12 (Meyer group); finder code GP = G. Pappa.
C/2008 J7 was very small and slightly diffuse (mag 7.5-8).  C/2008
J8 was very diffuse and very faint (mag about 8).  C/2008 J9 was
small and condensed (mag 7-7.5).  C/2008 J10 was small and
essentially stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 J11 was
very small and slightly diffuse (mag about 8).  C/2008 J12 was
stellar in appearance; in C2 images it was of mag about 6.5, while
in C3 it appeared very small and faint.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 J7    May  1.631     2 39.7  +13 50   C2     HS   2008-L48
 C/2008 J8         5.038     2 53.8  +14 54   C2     JR   2008-L48
 C/2008 J9         5.338     2 55.6  +15 01   C2     MK   2008-L48
 C/2008 J10        6.979     3 01.5  +17 34   C2     JR   2008-M10
 C/2008 J11        7.588     3 04.3  +15 39   C2     GP   2008-M10
 C/2008 J12        7.963     3 05.3  +17 32   C2/3   SY   2008-M10
[IAUC 8964, 2008 August 1]
COMETS C/2008 J13-J16, C/2008 K1, C/2008 K2 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8964, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  Karl Battams notes that C/2008 J13
was slightly diffuse (mag about 6.5) with a short tail.  C/2008 J14
was stellar in appearance (mag about 5.5-6) in C3 images, and was
bright and teardrop-shaped in C2 images.  C/2008 J15 was small and
slightly diffuse (mag about 8).  C/2008 J16 was extremely faint
(mag about 8.5) and very diffuse.  C/2008 K1 was tiny and stellar
in appearance (mag about 8-8.5).  C/2008 K2 was tiny, extremely
faint (mag about 8.5), and slightly diffuse.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 J13   May 12.021     3 20.2  +16 41   C2     RK   2008-M11
 C/2008 J14       12.971     3 33.9  +15 00   C3/2   RM   2008-M11
 C/2008 J15       13.064     3 24.2  +16 54   C2     JR   2008-M11
 C/2008 J16       14.379     3 28.6  +17 11   C2     JR   2008-M11
 C/2008 K1        17.317     3 39.7  +17 49   C2     MK   2008-M13
 C/2008 K2        17.650     3 40.8  +17 52   C2     MK   2008-M13
[IAUC 8981, 2008 September 26]
COMETS C/2008 K3-K11 AND C/2008 L4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8981, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 K7 (Meyer group), which was tiny, stellar in appearance,
and faint (mag about 7.5-8), and C/2008 K10, which was small and
stellar in appearance (mag 7-7.5, brightening as it left the C2
field-of-view but never appeared in C3).  C/2008 K10 has been
identified by R. Kracht with C/1999 X3 (cf. IAUC 8735; not reported
until 2006 and being near the limit of visibility in C2 images) and
C/2004 E2 (cf. IAUC 8365), an identification confirmed by B. G.
Marsden (with linked orbits and residuals published on MPC 2008-S49;
for epoch 2008 May 14.0 TT, T = 2008 May 31.334 TT, q = 0.04797 AU,
e = 0.98162, Peri. = 353.611 deg, Node = 323.655 deg, i = 6.259 deg,
equinox 2000.0); Marsden notes that close approaches occurred to
the earth on 2000 Jan. 13 (Delta = 0.058 AU) and Mars on 2004 May
19 (Delta_M = 0.032 AU).  K. Battams writes that C/2008 K3 was tiny,
extremely faint (mag about 8.5), and stellar in appearance.  C/2008
K4 was one of the brightest comets seen by SOHO (saturating
slightly in both LASCO cameras, with estimated peak magnitude about
1-2), appearing as a bright teardrop in C3 images and having a
partly-forked, "thick" tail about 0.5 long in C2 images; both
SECCHI COR cameras also imaged C/2008 K4, with the tail appearing
somewhat thinner in the COR2A images and showing the slight "fork"
in the COR2B images.  C/2008 K5 and C/2008 K7 were tiny and stellar
in appearance (mag about 7.5-8).  C/2008 K6 was tiny and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7) in C3 images, and elongated and very
diffuse in C2 images.  C/2008 K8 was very diffuse (mag about 8).
C/2008 K9 and C/2008 K11 were both small and very diffuse (mag
about 8-8.5, the former being perhaps slightly fainter than the
latter).  C/2008 L4 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about 7-7.5).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 K3    May 17.858     3 41.0  +17 51   C2     MK   2008-M13
 C/2008 K4        21.988     4 08.3  +16 12   C3/2   RM   2008-M13
 C/2008 K5        23.579     4 02.4  +18 52   C2     MK   2008-M13
 C/2008 K6        25.513     4 10.2  +18 08   C3/2   HS   2008-O15
 C/2008 K7        25.913     4 13.3  +22 23   C2     JR   2008-O15
 C/2008 K8        28.079     4 20.9  +19 43   C2     JR   2008-O15
 C/2008 K9        28.704     4 23.1  +19 47   C2     GP   2008-O15
 C/2008 K10       30.881     4 27.8  +21 22   C2     RK   2008-O16
 C/2008 K11       31.038     4 31.8  +20 05   C2     GS   2008-O16
 C/2008 L4    June 2.371     4 39.4  +20 18   C2     MK   2008-O16
[IAUC 8982, 2008 September 26]
COMETS C/2008 L5-L8 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8982, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images:  C/2008 L5 and C/2008 L8 being
Kreutz sungrazers, and the other two belonging to the "Kracht II"
group -- and suggested by R. Kracht to be returning split components
of C/2002 R5 (cf. IAUC 7984), with corresponding two-apparition sets
of orbital elements by B. G. Marsden on MPEC 2008-O23.  K. Battams
writes that C/2008 L5 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about
7.5).  C/2008 L6 was stellar in appearance (mag about 6.5).  C/2008
L7 was tiny and stellar in appearance (mag about 8).  C/2008 L8 was
very diffuse (mag about 8.5).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 L5    June 7.246     4 59.7  +20 55   C2     HS   2008-O16
 C/2008 L6        10.038     5 05.5  +23 10   C2     RK   2008-O23
 C/2008 L7        10.038     5 05.8  +23 11   C2     RK   2008-O23
 C/2008 L8        10.229     5 09.8  +21 03   C2     MA   2008-O23

     Z. Sekanina, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reports that he made
an attempt to constrain the probable time of breakup of the SOHO
comet C/2002 R5 into its fragments, C/2008 L6 and C/2008 L7.  The
approach was based on fitting the geocentric positional offsets of
C/2008 L7 from C/2008 L6, derived from the June 10 astrometric
observations made with the C2 coronagraph (MPEC 2008-O23).  The
low-accuracy data and the short orbital arc available ruled out the
possibility of a more comprehensive modeling, and allowed him only
to conclude that the event occurred most probably between 2 and 10
weeks before the 2002 perihelion, when C/2002 R5 was 0.6 to 1.7 AU
from the sun.  When imaged in 2002, the comet must have been
already double, but the separation distance did not exceed 2" and
the duplicity could not be resolved by either coronagraph.  The rms
residual of these solutions was +/- 3".9, and for the seven used
offsets (of 11 measured) the residuals did not exceed 6".  Another
positive sign of these solutions was a low separation velocity,
reaching submeter-per-second values for the early breakup times and
never getting greater than about 2 m/s.  No outgassing-driven
differential nongravitational accelerations were found to have been
affecting the motions of the fragment comets between 2002 and 2008.
With B. G. Marsden's set of elements for C/2008 L6 (MPEC 2008-O23),
the following orbit is representative of C/2008 L7:  Epoch = 2008
June 23.0 TT, T = 2008 June 10.1704 TT, e = 0.985704, q = 0.045957
AU, Peri. = 58.9343 deg, Node = 359.7975 deg, i = 12.1505 deg
(equinox 2000.0), P = 5.76 years.
[IAUC 8983, 2008 September 28]
COMETS C/2008 L9-L15 AND C/2008 M1-M7 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8983, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 L11 and C/2008 L15 (members of the Meyer group).  K.
Battams writes that C/2008 L9 (which was also found by B. Zhou) was
small and stellar in appearance (mag about 7) in C3 images, and
quite diffuse with a short, diffuse tail in C2 images.  C/2008 L10
and C/2008 L15 were stellar in appearance (mag about 7-7.5).
C/2008 L11 was stellar in appearance, reaching mag about 5.5-6 in
C2 images.  C/2008 L12 was quite diffuse (mag about 7.5-8).  C/2008
L13, C/2008 M2, and C/2008 M5 were slightly diffuse (mag about 8).
C/2008 L14 was teardrop-shaped (mag about 3-4) in C3 images, and
showed a diffuse tail about 0.25 deg long in C2 images (the tail
also similarly visible in SECCHI COR2-A images, and as somewhat
fainter and shorter in COR2-B images).  C/2008 M1 was tiny and
stellar in appearance (mag about 8).  C/2008 M3 was slightly
diffuse (mag about 7.5-8).  C/2008 M4 was extremely faint (mag
about 8.5) and very diffuse.  C/2008 M6 was very small, faint (mag
about 8), and somewhat stellar in appearance.  C/2008 M7 (which
was also found by H. Su) was very diffuse (mag about 8).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 L9    June 10.971    5 14.2  +20 38   C3/2   MU   2008-O23
 C/2008 L10        11.988    5 18.1  +20 38   C3/2   MU   2008-O24
 C/2008 L11        12.438    5 19.1  +21 16   C2/3   MK   2008-O24
 C/2008 L12        13.314    5 23.1  +21 21   C2     MK   2008-O24
 C/2008 L13        13.454    5 23.8  +21 21   C2     MK   2008-O24
 C/2008 L14        15.138    5 31.4  +18 59   C3/2*  TH   2008-O27
 C/2008 L15        15.746    5 35.3  +24 04   C2     RK   2008-O27
 C/2008 M1         21.660    5 55.8  +21 39   C2     MK   2008-O27
 C/2008 M2         22.463    5 58.7  +21 41   C2     MK   2008-O27
 C/2008 M3         23.811    6 03.9  +21 49   C2     HS   2008-O27
 C/2008 M4         25.285    6 10.1  +21 40   C2     MK   2008-P33
 C/2008 M5         25.935    6 12.3  +21 44   C2     RM   2008-P33
 C/2008 M6         27.826    6 20.0  +21 44   C2     TH   2008-P33
 C/2008 M7         28.826    6 24.3  +21 45   C2     TH   2008-P33
[IAUC 8984, 2008 September 29]
COMETS C/2008 N2-N11, C/2008 O1, AND C/2008 O4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8984, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 N4 (a Kracht-group member that was suggested by R.
Kracht as being identical with C/2002 S7; cf. IAUC 7986, plus the
discussion and analysis on MPEC 2008-P60) and C/2008 N10 (no known
group).  C/2008 N2 was very bright (mag about 4.5) and elongated in
C3 images, and showed a diffuse tail about 0.5 deg long in C2
images (where it appeared headless inside about 6 solar radii
(apparent); SECCHI COR2-A images on July 3-4 showed a thin tail
much like that seen in C2 images, and a tail also was seen to form
in the last images obtained with the COR2-B camera on July 4.
C/2008 N3 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about 7.5).  C/2008
N4, C/2008 N10, and C/2008 N11 were small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 N5 was quite faint (mag about
7.5) and stellar in appearance in C3 images, while it was slightly
diffuse with no tail in C2 images.  C/2008 N6 was small and stellar
in appearance (mag about 7.5) in C3 images, but slightly diffuse in
C2 images.  C/2008 N7 was small and slightly diffuse (mag about 8).
C/2008 N8 was quite bright (mag about 6) and slightly elongated in
C3 images; it was teardrop-shaped and slightly diffuse in C2 images.
C/2008 N9 was small and stellar in appearance (mag about 7) in C3
images, but diffuse and slightly elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 O4
was stellar in appearance, peaking at mag about 5.5 around Sept.
6.83 UT.
     Additional astrometry of C/2008 O1 (cf. IAUC 8962) was
published on MPEC 2008-P33, with the note by K. Battams that it
appeared very small and stellar in appearance, peaking at mag about
6.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 N2    July  2.888    6 35.8  +18 46   C3/2*  BZ   2008-P60
 C/2008 N3          3.913    6 44.7  +21 37   C2     RK   2008-P60
 C/2008 N4          4.104    6 45.6  +23 14   C2     TH   2008-P60
 C/2008 N5          4.388    6 43.7  +20 36   C3/2   AK   2008-P60
 C/2008 N6          5.238    6 44.5  +19 23   C3/2   HS   2008-S67
 C/2008 N7          6.104    6 53.7  +21 31   C2     TH   2008-S67
 C/2008 N8          7.654    6 52.5  +18 45   C3/2   BZ   2008-S68
 C/2008 N9          8.321    6 59.2  +20 23   C3     BZ   2008-S68
 C/2008 N10        10.579    7 14.7  +21 52   C2     RK   2008-S68
 C/2008 N11        12.513    7 15.1  +20 00   C3     HS   2008-S68
 C/2008 O4         25.421    8 12.5  +20 17   C2     MK   2008-S67
[IAUC 8985, 2008 September 30]
COMET C/2008 S2 = C/2001 D1 = C/2004 X7 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8985, an additional near-sun presumed comet
has been found by R. Kracht on SOHO website images (discovery
observation tabulated below).  C/2008 S2 has been identified by
Kracht as apparently identical with C/2001 D1 (cf. IAUC 7936) and
C/2004 X7 (cf. IAUC 8466), a linkage that has been verified by B. G.
Marsden (see MPEC 2008-S81 and 2008-S82).  K. Battams writes that
C/2008 S2 was tiny and stellar in appearance (mag 7.5-8.0) and
appeared even fainter on the far side of the sun.  In remeasuring
the positions of C/2001 D1, Battams notes that it was then very
faint and tiny (mag about 8), and was slightly brighter when
visible on the far side of the sun.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 S2   Sept. 17.814  11 50.0  + 1 36   C2     RK   2008-S81
[IAUC 8986, 2008 September 30]
COMETS C/2008 O4, C/2008 O5, AND C/2008 O6 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8986, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images; C/2008 O5 is a Kreutz sungrazer,
and C/2008 O6 belongs to no known group.  C/2008 O5 was stellar in
appearance in C3 images (mag about 6.5-7.0), and small and slightly
diffuse in C2 images.  C/2008 O6 was stellar in appearance and
quite bright (mag about 6.5).  Contrary to the inference on IAUC
8985, C/2008 O4 also belongs to no known group, and the last
sentence of the first paragraph (regarding C/2008 O4) should be
replaced with the following:  C/2008 O4 was small and condensed,
being brightest at the edge of the C2 field-of-view (mag perhaps
7.5) and becoming fainter as it approached the occulter.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 O5   July 17.196    7 29.8  +18 29   C3/2   BZ   2008-S68
 C/2008 O6        17.571    7 52.8  +23 59   C3/2   HS   2008-T10
[IAUC 8987, 2008 October 2]
COMET C/2008 O7 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8987, below are tabulated the discovery data
for an additional near-sun presumed comet found on SOHO website
images.  Not a member of any known dynamical group, C/2008 O7 was
very diffuse and perhaps slightly elongated (mag about 7.5-8.0);
based on its appearance, K. Battams remarks that it is unlikely to
have survived.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 O7   July 18.921    7 54.6  +19 12   C2     BZ   2008-T10
[IAUC 9001, 2008 December 5]
COMETS C/2008 P2-P6 AND C/2008 Q5 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9001, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 P2 was small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 6.5).  C/2008 P3 was small and stellar in
appearance in C3 images (mag about 6.5), and very diffuse, very
faint, and elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 P4 was small and stellar
in appearance (mag about 7).  C/2008 P5 was small (mag about 6.5)
with a short tail in C3 images, and very diffuse, very faint, and
elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 P6 (found by Z. Xu = ZX) was
stellar in appearance (mag about 7).  C/2008 Q5 was tiny, very
faint (mag about 7-7.5), and stellar in appearance.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 P2   Aug.  1.388    8 25.9  +15 40   C3     HS   2008-T11
 C/2008 P3   Aug.  6.196    8 43.2  +14 23   C3/2   MK   2008-T11
 C/2008 P4   Aug.  8.054    8 53.4  +14 53   C3     MK   2008-T11
 C/2008 P5   Aug.  9.654    8 57.7  +13 18   C3/2   TH   2008-T11
 C/2008 P6   Aug. 14.446    9 19.8  +13 12   C3     ZX   2008-T11
 C/2008 Q5   Aug. 26.763   10 06.2  + 9 10   C3     JR   2008-X24
[IAUC 9003, 2008 December 6]
COMET C/2008 R7 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9003, an additional near-sun Kracht-group
presumed comet was found by R. Kracht on SOHO website images
("discovery" image tabulated below).  C/2008 R7 was stellar in
appearance in C3, C2, and COR2-A images, peaking at mag about 5.5
around Sept. 6.83 UT.  Kracht suggests that C/2008 R7 may be
identical with C/2002 S5, though B. G. Marsden notes that identity
with C/2002 S11 is also possible (despite its proposed association
with C/2008 G6).

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 R7   Sept. 6.447   10 52.3  + 7 37   C3/2*  RK   2008-S67
[IAUC 9006, 2008 December 22]
COMETS C/2008 R8-R12 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9006, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 R8 (non-group).  C/2008 R8 (peak mag about 7), C/2008 R9
(mag about 7), and 2008 R11 (mag about 6.5) were small and stellar
in appearance.  C/2008 R10 was elongated (mag about 5.5) in C3
images, and quite diffuse with a very faint short tail in C2 images.
C/2008 R12 was slightly elongated (mag about 6-6.5) in C3 images,
and diffuse with a very faint, diffuse, short tail in C2 images.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 R8   Sept. 3.629   10 46.2  + 6 02   C2     RK   2008-X24
 C/2008 R9         4.904   10 32.1  + 5 34   C3     JR   2008-X24
 C/2008 R10        7.904   10 38.0  + 4 00   C3/2   RK   2008-X24
 C/2008 R11        7.904   10 43.1  + 4 35   C3     BZ   2008-X25
 C/2008 R12       11.905   10 54.5  + 2 40   C3/2   BZ   2008-X25
 C/2008 R13       14.596   11 16.4  + 2 29   C3     HS   2008-X25
[IAUC 9011, 2009 January 20]
COMETS C/2003 Q1, Q6; C/2008 R13, AND C/2008 S4-S8 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9011, additional Kreutz sungrazing comets have
been found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 R13 (which was
inadvertently tabulated on IAUC 9011; peak magnitude about 7.5),
C/2008 S4 (peak mag about 6.5-7), and C/2008 S5 (peak mag about 7)
were small and stellar in appearance.  C/2008 S6 was tiny and
stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5) in C3 images, but quite
diffuse and very faint in C2 images.  C/2008 S7 was small and
stellar in appearance (mag about 6.5-7) in C3 images, but very
diffuse and slightly elongated in C2 images.  C/2008 S8 was stellar
in appearance (mag about 6.5-7) in C3 images, but diffuse with a
very faint, diffuse, short tail in C2 images.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 S4   Sept.17.571   11 23.1  + 0 54   C3     RM   2008-X25
 C/2008 S5        19.696   11 31.2  + 0 18   C3     RM   2008-Y04
 C/2008 S6        28.388   12 09.3  - 3 43   C3/2   MK   2008-Y04
 C/2008 S7        29.096   12 03.6  - 3 46   C3/2   JR   2008-Y04
 C/2008 S8        30.179   12 08.4  - 4 12   C3/2   MK   2008-Y04

     K. Battams adds that C/2003 Q1 and C/2003 Q6 (cf. IAUC 8339)
were both tiny and stellar in appearance (peaking at mag about 8-
8.5); improved astrometry for these presumed comets was published
on MPEC 2008-Y06.
[IAUC 9014, 2009 January 28]
COMETS C/2008 T6-T10 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9014, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images; all were Kreutz sungrazers
except for C/2008 T6 (Meyer group) and C/2008 T7 (no known group).
Those objects visible in C3 images appeared stellar therein.
C/2008 T6 was small and faded quickly (peak mag about 7).  C/2008
T7 was tiny (mag about 7.5-8).  C/2008 T8 peaked at mag about 6.5-
7 in C3 images, but was quite diffuse with a short, diffuse tail in
C2 images.  C/2008 T9 and C/2008 T10 were of mag 7.5-8 in C3 images;
the former was diffuse and very faint in C2 images, while the
latter was very diffuse and slightly elongated in C2 images.

 Comet       2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 T6   Oct.  2.379   12 31.1  - 2 17   C2     BZ   2009-A59
 C/2008 T7         3.868   12 42.4  - 2 46   C2     RK   2009-A59
 C/2008 T8         5.279   12 26.6  - 6 13   C3/2   JR   2009-A59
 C/2008 T9         5.304   12 31.8  - 6 02   C3/2   MK   2009-A59
 C/2008 T10       11.846   12 57.8  - 8 32   C3/2   TH   2009-A59
[IAUC 9018, 2009 February 2]
COMETS C/2008 T11, C/2008 T12, AND C/2008 U2-U4 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9018, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 T11 was small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7-7.5) in C3 images, but diffuse and faint
with no tail in C2 images.  C/2008 T12 was very small, diffuse, and
elongated (mag about 8).  C/2008 U2 was small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7).  C/2008 U3 was slightly diffuse (mag
about 8-8.5).  C/2008 U4 was slightly diffuse, appearing small (mag
about 7) in C3 images with a short, diffuse tail in C2 images.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 T11   Oct. 13.638   13 01.3  - 9 32   C3/2   HS   2009-A59
 C/2008 T12        14.313   13 11.3  - 9 13   C2     RK   2009-A59
 C/2008 U2         16.521   13 19.8  -10 06   C2     EB   2009-B66
 C/2008 U3         16.788   13 21.3  -10 09   C2     RM   2009-B66
 C/2008 U4         16.863   13 08.1  -11 06   C3/2   RM   2009-B66
[IAUC 9020, 2009 February 18]
COMETS C/2008 U5-U8 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9020, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images -- all Kreutz sungrazers except
for C/2008 U6 (non-group), which was small and stellar in
appearance (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 U5 was extremely faint (mag
about 8.5) and very diffuse.  C/2008 U7 was stellar in appearance
and perhaps slightly elongated (mag about 7) in C3 images, but
quite diffuse with a thin, diffuse, faint tail in C2 images.
C/2008 U8 was very diffuse (mag about 8-8.5).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 U5    Oct. 18.188   13 28.1  -10 55   C2     RM   2009-B66
 C/2008 U6         18.440   13 31.0  - 7 53   C2     MK   2009-B67
 C/2008 U7         20.571   13 29.8  -12 09   C3/2   RK   2009-B67
 C/2008 U8         20.746   13 36.0  -11 41   C2     TH   2009-B67
[IAUC 9021, 2009 February 20]
COMETS C/2008 U6, C/2008 U9-U16, C/2008 V1-V3 (SOHO)
     A revised orbit on MPEC 2009-B70 shows C/2008 U6 (cf. IAUC
9021) to be a member of the Meyer group.  Additional near-sun
presumed comets have been found on SOHO website images, with their
"discovery" observations tabulated below -- all Kreutz sungrazers
except for C/2008 V2 (Meyer group).  C/2008 U9 was very diffuse
(mag about 8-8.5).  C/2008 U10 and C/2008 U15 were faint (mag about
8) and diffuse.  C/2008 U11 was slightly diffuse; it appeared small
(mag about 7) in C3 images, with a short, diffuse tail in C2 images.
C/2008 U12 and C/2008 V3 were very diffuse (mag about 8).  C/2008
U13 was stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5) in C3 images, and
quite condensed with no tail in C2 images.  C/2008 U14 was slightly
diffuse and elongated (mag about 8).  C/2008 U16 was small and
condensed (mag about 7.5-8).  C/2008 V1 was slightly diffuse; in C3
images, it was faint (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 V2 was stellar in
appearance (mag about 7).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 U9    Oct. 21.621   13 39.7  -12 03   C2     HS   2009-B67
 C/2008 U10        24.521   13 50.7  -13 06   C2     ZX   2009-B70
 C/2008 U11        24.696   13 44.3  -13 52   C3/2   HS   2009-B70
 C/2008 U12        26.329   13 57.7  -13 40   C2     BZ   2009-B70
 C/2008 U13        26.988   13 53.6  -14 38   C3/2   RM   2009-B71
 C/2008 U14        27.454   14 02.9  -14 10   C2     RK   2009-B71
 C/2008 U15        28.413   14 06.6  -14 31   C2     JR   2009-B71
 C/2008 U16        31.079   14 16.7  -15 23   C2     RM   2009-B71
 C/2008 V1    Nov.  2.821   14 24.9  -16 55   C3/2   RM   2009-C46
 C/2008 V2          4.246   14 31.5  -16 07   C2     RK   2009-C46
 C/2008 V3          6.329   14 41.9  -17 25   C2     RM   2009-C46
[IAUC 9022, 2009 February 24]
COMETS C/2008 V4, C/2008 V5, C/2008 V6 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9022, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images, with their "discovery"
observations tabulated below -- all Kreutz sungrazers except for
C/2008 V5 (non-group).  C/2008 V4 was very faint (mag about 8-8.5)
and condensed.  C/2008 V5 was perhaps very slightly diffuse but
very small (mag about 7.5-8).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 V4    Nov.  7.063   14 46.2  -17 46   C2     RM   2009-C46
 C/2008 V5          8.660   15 04.1  -16 00   C2     JR   2009-C47
 C/2008 V6         11.868   15 06.1  -18 57   C2     JR   2009-C47
[IAUC 9024, 2009 March 4]
COMETS C/2008 W1 AND C/2009 A1 (STEREO)
     Further to IAUCs 8955 and 9005, K. Battams has measured (and
B. G. Marsden has reduced) astrometry for two additional near-sun
presumed comets that were found on STEREO website images by A.
Watson.  C/2008 W1, which was observed only by the 'HI1-B'
instrument (onboard STEREO-B), was a Kreutz sungrazer.  C/2008 W1
peaked at magnitude perhaps 9-10; the SOHO LASCO instrument was not
operational when this object was found.  C/2009 A1, which was
detected by the HI1 instruments on both STEREO-A and STEREO-B,
belongs to no known group; D. Chestnov and R. Kracht aided in the
finding of images of this object in HI1-B images after it was
initially found in HI1-A images.  Battams notes that C/2009 A1 was
very faint, peaking around mag 13 (with 14 being the limiting
magnitude of the HI-1 instruments), and it was small and seemingly
diffuse.  The parabolic orbital elements below for C/2009 A1 by
Marsden were published on MPC 65057.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 W1    Nov. 18.739   12 28.7  - 7 38   H1B    AW   2009-B10

 Comet        2009 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2009 A1    Jan. 10.017   22 28.1  - 3 51   H1A    AW   2009-B10

     T = 2009 Jan. 11.785 TT          Peri. = 102.326
                                      Node  = 340.014   2000.0
     q = 0.12713 AU                   Incl. =  51.472
[IAUC 9025, 2009 March 5]
COMETS C/2008 W2, C/2008 W3, C/2008 W4, C/2008 W5 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9024, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images, with their "discovery" observations
tabulated below.  C/2008 W2 was tiny and condensed (mag about 7.5).
C/2008 W3 was stellar in appearance (mag about 7-7.5) in C3 images,
and quite condensed in C2 images.  C/2008 W4 was tiny and stellar
in appearance (mag about 8).  C/2008 W5 was stellar in appearance
(mag about 6.5) in C3 images, and fairly condensed with a very
short, diffuse tail in C2 images.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 W2    Nov. 16.317   15 25.5  -20 29   C2     JR   2009-C47
 C/2008 W3         23.388   15 49.0  -23 40   C3/2   AK   2009-C47
 C/2008 W4         23.521   15 56.0  -21 11   C2     HS   2009-C56
 C/2008 W5         23.888   15 51.2  -23 46   C3/2   JR   2009-C56
[IAUC 9027, 2009 March 15]
COMETS C/2008 W11, C/2009 W12, C/2008 X5, C/2008 X6 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9028, additional presumed comets have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 W11 and C/2008 W12 were
slightly diffuse Kreutz sungrazers (peak magnitudes about 8 and 8.5,
respectively).  C/2008 X5 (Meyer group) and C/2008 X6 (Marsden
group) were both small and stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 W11   Nov. 29.921   16 24.0  -23 25   C2     EB   2009-C57
 C/2008 W12        29.963   16 24.4  -23 23   C2     RM   2009-E60
 C/2008 X5    Dec.  7.022   16 56.8  -23 57   C2     RK   2008-Y06
 C/2008 X6          7.504   16 53.5  -22 17   C2     RK   2008-Y06
[IAUC 9030, 2009 March 20]
COMETS C/2008 X7-X12 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9030, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 X7 and C/2008 X8 were very
diffuse (peak magnitudes about 8 and 7.5-8, respectively).  C/2008
X9 was small and condensed (mag about 7-7.5).  C/2008 X10 was tiny
and stellar in appearance (mag about 8).  C/2008 X11 was small and
stellar in appearance (mag about 7) in C3 images, but slightly
diffuse with a short, faint, diffuse tail in C2 images.  C/2008 X12
was small and stellar in appearance (mag about 6.5) in C3 images,
but condensed with a very thin, faint tail in C2 images.

 Comet        2008 UT      R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 X7    Dec. 1.329   16 31.0  -23 40   C2     MU   2009-E60
 C/2008 X8         2.686   16 38.1  -23 55   C2     MA   2009-E60
 C/2008 X9         3.604   16 41.2  -24 02   C2     EB   2009-E60
 C/2008 X10        3.938   16 42.5  -24 05   C2     RK   2009-E61
 C/2008 X11        5.154   16 48.0  -25 51   C3/2   SY   2009-E61
 C/2008 X12        8.846   17 02.9  -26 54   C3/2   MU   2009-E61
[IAUC 9031, 2009 March 20]
COMETS C/2008 X13, C/2008 X14, C/2008 Y4, C/2008 Y5 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9031, additional Kreutz sungrazers have been
found on SOHO website images.  K. Battams notes that C/2008 X13 was
quite diffuse (mag about 7.5) with a very short, diffuse tail.
C/2008 X14 was extremely faint (mag about 8.5) and slightly diffuse.
C/2008 Y4 and C/2008 Y5 were tiny and stellar in appearance (mag
about 8-8.5).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 X13   Dec. 10.729   17 14.0  -24 52   C2     RK   2009-E61
 C/2008 X14        13.663   17 28.5  -25 04   C2     ZX   2009-E63
 C/2008 Y4         19.712   17 56.4  -25 08   C2     BZ   2009-E63
 C/2008 Y5         19.896   17 57.7  -25 08   C2     ZJ   2009-E63
[IAUC 9032, 2009 March 21]
COMETS C/2008 Y6-Y9 (SOHO)
     Additional Kreutz sungrazers were found on SOHO website images
(cf. IAUC 9032).  C/2008 Y6 (mag about 6.5-7), C/2008 Y7 (mag about
6-6.5), and C/2008 Y8 mag about 7-7.5) were small and stellar in
appearance in C3 images; C2 images showed C/2008 Y6 and C/2008 Y8
as slightly diffuse, and C/2008 Y7 as teardrop-shaped, with C/2008
Y6 and C/2008 Y7 each showing a short, faint tail.  C/2008 Y9 was
faint (mag about 8) and diffuse.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 Y6    Dec. 21.138   18 04.5  -27 12   C3/2   MU   2009-E63
 C/2008 Y7         21.154   18 04.7  -27 19   C3/2   MU   2009-E63
 C/2008 Y8         21.571   18 05.8  -25 52   C3/2   MK   2009-E63
 C/2008 Y9         21.588   18 04.6  -25 12   C2     MK   2009-E63
[IAUC 9036, 2009 April 9]
COMETS C/2003 Q1, Q6; C/2008 X6; C/2008 Y10, Y11 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9036, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images (with the initial observations
tabulated below).  C/2008 Y10, a Kreutz sungrazer, was stellar in
appearance (mag about 6) in C3 images; in C2 images, it was
teardrop-shaped and slightly diffuse.  C/2008 Y11, a member of the
Marsden group, was tiny and stellar in appearance (mag about 7).
R. Kracht proposed that C/2008 Y11 may be identical with C/2003 Q6
(cf. IAUC 8339), and C/2008 X6 (cf. IAUC 9030) with C/2003 Q1 (cf.
IAUC 8339); linkages by B. G. Marsden (cf. MPEC 2009-F81) suggest
that these two comets (both with P approximately 5.3 yr) may have
separated from each other around their last return to perihelion
(1998 Apr. 26-29), though Kracht was unable to find any trace of
them in C2 data from 1998 Apr. 25.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 Y10   Dec. 21.988   18 09.0  -27 29   C3/2   JR   2009-F17
 C/2008 Y11        22.288   17 59.0  -22 54   C2     RK   2009-F17
[IAUC 9037, 2009 April 10]
COMETS C/2008 Y12-Y15 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 9037, additional near-sun presumed comets have
been found on SOHO website images.  C/2008 Y12 and Kreutz sungrazer
C/2008 Y15 were stellar in appearance (mag about 7.5).  C/2008 Y13,
also a Kreutz sungrazer, appeared stellar (mag about 7-7.5) in C3
images, but was very diffuse, faint, and slightly elongated in C2
images.  C/2008 Y14 was very diffuse (mag about 8).

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 Y12   Dec. 22.704   17 58.6  -22 42   C2     RK   2009-F17
 C/2008 Y13        27.888   18 36.1  -25 38   C3/2   AK   2009-F18
 C/2008 Y14        27.896   18 20.0  -22 43   C2     JR   2009-F18
 C/2008 Y15        29.821   18 45.1  -25 36   C3     BZ   2009-F18
[IAUC 9039, 2009 April 18]
COMETS C/2008 E10, C/2008 Y16, AND C/2008 Y17 (STEREO)
     Further to IAUCs 9025 and 9036, additional slightly diffuse
and somewhat elongated Kreutz sungrazers have been found on STEREO/
SECCHI HI-1A images (the elongation is partly due to the long
exposure times, about 40 min).  Approximate peak magnitudes:
C/2008 E10, 11-12; C/2008 Y16, 10-11; C/2008 Y17, 10.  K. Battams
notes that Kreutz comets in the HI-1 images generally initially
appear out of the background noise at mag about 13.5, and they are
still in the process of brightening as they leave the field-of-view;
he adds that their rates of initial brightening varies -- some
making very abrupt appearances, while others gradually come into
view.

 Comet        2008 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/2008 E10   Mar.  7.850    1 01.8  + 2 32   HI*    AW   2009-F31
 C/2008 Y16   Dec. 31.794   22 05.1  -15 04   HI*    AW   2009-F31
 C/2008 Y17   Dec. 31.905   22 07.4  -15 32   HI*    KB   2009-F31
[IAUC 9051, 2009 June 7]
COMET C/2002 S7 = C/2008 N4 = C/1996 X3 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8985 and R. Kracht's suggestion that C/2002 S7
= C/2008 N4, Kracht has now confirmed the likely identification
with C/1996 X3 (cf. IAUC 8734).  Since the 1996 comet passed
perihelion 0.12 day later than the gravitational 2002-2008 linkage
indicates, he assumed the nongravitational parameters A_1 = 0.0000,
A_2 = +0.0027.  Further details are given on MPEC 2009-J14, which
includes the following orbital elements:  T = 2008 July 4.38 TT, q
= 0.0482, e = 0.9851, Peri. = 52.39 deg, Node = 49.82 deg, i =
13.47 deg (equinox 2000.0), P = 5.78 yr.
[IAUC 9041, 2009 May 5]
COMET C/2001 D1 = C/2004 X7 = C/2008 S2 = C/1997 J6 (SOHO)
     Further to IAUC 8986, R. Kracht has identified very weak
images of a presumed comet on SOHO images from 1997 that he and
B. G. Marsden have linked (via measurements by K. Battams) to the
comets in 2001, 2004, and 2008 with nongravitational forces.

 Comet        1997 UT       R.A.(2000)Decl.   Inst.  F    MPEC
 C/1997 J6    May  1.917     2 29.7  +14 25    C2    RK   2009-H56
[IAUC 9050, 2009 May 29]
Here is a full list of the 2008 SOHO discoveries, with the date of the comet, date of discovery, coronagraph and discoverer.
Published by Jonathan Shanklin. mailto:jds@ast.cam.ac.uk