[Iaude] MPEC B45: COMET C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)

Thu Jan 17 13:23:17 EST 2019

M.P.E.C. 2019-B45                                Issued 2019 Jan. 17, 17:58 UT
 
     The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars contain information on unusual
         minor planets and routine data on comets.  They are published
    on behalf of Division F of the International Astronomical Union by the
          Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
                          Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.

             Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network

                              MPC at CFA.HARVARD.EDU
            URL https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/    ISSN 1523-6714


                          COMET C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)

     Initially reported as an asteroid, the discovery images of this object
appeared to be fuzzy on subsequent examination.  Confirmation of the cometary
nature came from R. Wainscoat and R. Weryk (568): on Jan. 14, they described a
1".21 FWHM (compared to stellar FWHMs of 0".74 +/- 0".03) and a faint 4" tail
towards the south-west; on Jan. 15, they reported a 0".99 FWHM (compared to
0".57 +/- 0".03 for nearby stars) and a 10" tail in P.A. 230.
 
Observations:
    CK19A050  C2019 01 04.57882509 31 17.727-03 31 25.30         20.4 GVEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 04.59069809 31 17.540-03 31 22.32         21.2 GVEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 04.60257409 31 17.325-03 31 18.96         21.1 GVEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 04.61447709 31 17.090-03 31 15.56         21.2 GVEB045F51
    CK19A050* C2019 01 13.49202 09 28 18.252-02 46 27.22         21.5 wUEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 13.50406 09 28 17.978-02 46 23.24         21.6 wUEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 13.51609 09 28 17.708-02 46 19.07         21.3 wUEB045F51
    CK19A050  C2019 01 13.52816 09 28 17.436-02 46 15.25         21.7 wUEB045F51
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 14.42678709 27 57.487-02 41 16.92         21.15GVEB045568
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 14.42797209 27 57.459-02 41 16.53         21.18GVEB045568
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 14.42915609 27 57.433-02 41 16.12         21.21GVEB045568
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 15.38886109 27 35.746-02 35 52.54         21.33GVEB045568
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 15.39004009 27 35.714-02 35 52.10         21.25GVEB045568
    CK19A050 ^C2019 01 15.39122309 27 35.686-02 35 51.70         21.26GVEB045568
    CK19A050 KC2019 01 17.39944 09 26 49.10 -02 24 18.5          20.8 RoEB045691
    CK19A050 KC2019 01 17.41035 09 26 48.84 -02 24 14.1          21.3 RoEB045691
    CK19A050 KC2019 01 17.42126 09 26 48.57 -02 24 10.4          20.9 RoEB045691
    CK19A050  C2019 01 17.46005 09 26 47.64 -02 23 56.4          20.3 GVEB045I52
    CK19A050  C2019 01 17.46770 09 26 47.45 -02 23 54.2          21.5 GVEB045I52
    CK19A050  C2019 01 17.47578 09 26 47.22 -02 23 52.0          20.1 GVEB045I52
 
Observer details:
568 Mauna Kea.  Observers R. Wainscoat, L. Wells, S. Prunet.  Measurers
    R. Weryk, R. Wainscoat.  3.6-m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope + CCD.
691 Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak-Spacewatch.  Observer R. S. McMillan.
    0.9-m f/3 reflector + CCD.
F51 Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala.  Observers J. Bulger, K. Chambers, T. Lowe,
    E. Magnier, A. Schultz, M. Willman.  Measurers S. Chastel, M. Huber,
    Y. Ramanjooloo, R. Wainscoat, R. Weryk, K. Chambers, L. Denneau,
    J. Fairlamb, H. Flewelling, C.-C. Lin, E. Magnier.  1.8-m
    Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.
I52 Steward Observatory, Mt. Lemmon Station.  Observer D. C. Fuls.  Measurers
    B. M. Africano, E. J. Christensen, G. A. Farneth, D. C. Fuls, A. R. Gibbs,
    A. D. Grauer, H. Groeller, R. A. Kowalski, S. M. Larson, G. J. Leonard,
    R. L. Seaman, F. C. Shelly.  1.0-m reflector + CCD.
 
Orbital elements:
    C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)
T 2017 Oct. 13.97678 TT                                 MPCW
q   4.5372526            (2000.0)            P               Q
                   Peri.  287.08194     +0.01480129     -0.91025414
                   Node   149.96859     +0.87634901     +0.21106986
e   1.0            Incl.   55.76996     -0.48144921     +0.35621188
>From 20 observations 2019 Jan. 4-17.

Ephemeris:
    C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)
Date    TT    R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.  Phase   m1    m2
2018 12 18    09 35 04.7 -04 36 26   5.1608  5.6698   116.6     8.9  21.1
...
2019 01 02    09 32 02.4 -03 42 56   5.0354  5.7389   131.9     7.3  21.1
...
2019 01 10    09 29 32.9 -03 05 00   4.9868  5.7762   140.2     6.3  21.1
...
2019 01 16    09 27 21.7 -02 32 23   4.9606  5.8045   146.3     5.4  21.1
2019 01 17    09 26 58.5 -02 26 37   4.9572  5.8092   147.3     5.3  21.1
2019 01 18    09 26 34.9 -02 20 46   4.9541  5.8139   148.3     5.1  21.1
...
2019 01 24    09 24 07.5 -01 43 49   4.9412  5.8424   154.1     4.2  21.1
...
2019 02 01    09 20 39.2 -00 50 11   4.9408  5.8806   160.9     3.1  21.2
...
2019 02 16    09 14 03.8 +01 00 08   4.9955  5.9530   164.4     2.5  21.2

Gareth V. Williams           (C) Copyright 2019 MPC           M.P.E.C. 2019-B45