MPEC 2018-N04 : COMET P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
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M.P.E.C. 2018-N04 Issued 2018 July 1, 23:57 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@CFA.HARVARD.EDU
URL https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/ ISSN 1523-6714
COMET P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
From four co-added 30s images obtained on June 14, G. Leonard (G96)
reported that this object was a possible comet, with a 6"-8" coma and a broad
10"-12" tail in P.A. 210-240. R. A. Mastaler (691, June 17) reported that the
object was definitely diffuse with an indistinct tail in P.A. 260-270.
B. Lutkenhoner (G40, June 17.18 UT) described the object as a diffuse ~18"-wide
cloud. Q.-Z. Ye (I41), in prediscovery images from June 8 and 13, reported
that the object had a 5" FWHM, about twice that of nearby stars. J. V. Scotti
(291, June 22) reportred a 7" coma and a 0'.39 tail in P.A. 255.
E. J. Christensen (I52, July 1) reported a 10" coma, elongated to the west.
Observations:
PK18L050 C2018 06 08.42005 23 20 31.66 -01 44 07.2 20.3 GUEN004I41
PK18L050 C2018 06 08.46095 23 20 34.71 -01 43 46.6 19.8 GUEN004I41
PK18L050 C2018 06 13.42035 23 26 28.15 -01 03 15.6 19.8 GUEN004I41
PK18L050 C2018 06 13.47856 23 26 32.04 -01 02 46.4 19.4 GUEN004I41
PK18L050* C2018 06 14.42257 23 27 36.82 -00 55 18.9 18.5 GUEN004G96
PK18L050 C2018 06 14.42736 23 27 37.08 -00 55 16.9 19.2 GUEN004G96
PK18L050 C2018 06 14.43396 23 27 37.59 -00 55 13.6 18.6 GUEN004G96
PK18L050 C2018 06 14.46436 23 27 39.58 -00 54 59.0 18.5 GUEN004G96
PK18L050 KC2018 06 15.37300 23 28 41.08 -00 47 53.7 19.3 GUEN004H36
PK18L050 KC2018 06 15.38533 23 28 41.88 -00 47 47.5 19.3 GUEN004H36
PK18L050 KC2018 06 15.39766 23 28 42.73 -00 47 42.8 19.4 GUEN004H36
PK18L050 1C2018 06 15.74091 23 29 05.76 -00 44 56.4 vEN004Q62
PK18L050 1C2018 06 15.74626 23 29 06.13 -00 44 54.0 vEN004Q62
PK18L050 1C2018 06 15.74871 23 29 06.28 -00 44 52.9 vEN004Q62
PK18L050 1C2018 06 15.75116 23 29 06.42 -00 44 51.8 19.6 wvEN004Q62
PK18L050 KC2018 06 16.35286 23 29 46.48 -00 40 15.0 19.6 RqEN004W96
PK18L050 KC2018 06 16.37812 23 29 48.11 -00 40 02.8 19.6 RqEN004W96
PK18L050 KC2018 06 16.37986 23 29 48.17 -00 40 01.8 19.2 RqEN004W96
PK18L050 KC2018 06 16.40858 23 29 50.09 -00 39 48.1 19.5 RqEN004W96
PK18L050 9C2018 06 17.18227 23 30 41.07 -00 33 57.5 UEN004G40
PK18L050 9C2018 06 17.19832 23 30 42.15 -00 33 51.6 18.9 VUEN004G40
PK18L050 HC2018 06 17.37679 23 30 53.98 -00 32 28.7 19.5 RoEN004691
PK18L050 HC2018 06 17.38822 23 30 54.62 -00 32 25.1 19.9 RoEN004691
PK18L050 HC2018 06 17.39960 23 30 55.40 -00 32 18.3 19.4 RoEN004691
PK18L050 KC2018 06 18.34741 23 31 56.81 -00 25 06.8 19.8 RqEN004I47
PK18L050 KC2018 06 18.35152 23 31 57.03 -00 25 04.6 19.9 RqEN004I47
PK18L050 C2018 06 18.41277 23 32 01.01 -00 24 40.6 20.4 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 18.41682 23 32 01.28 -00 24 38.2 20.2 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 18.42413 23 32 01.77 -00 24 36.0 20.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 18.42806 23 32 01.98 -00 24 34.3 19.2 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 19.42947 23 33 05.91 -00 17 07.4 20.6 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 19.43412 23 33 06.17 -00 17 05.6 19.6 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 19.43924 23 33 06.40 -00 17 03.2 20.5 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 19.44518 23 33 06.85 -00 17 01.1 19.7 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 KC2018 06 21.03472 23 34 46.18 -00 05 25.2 19.8 VUEN004L01
PK18L050 KC2018 06 21.03969 23 34 46.52 -00 05 23.4 20.1 VUEN004L01
PK18L050 KC2018 06 21.04466 23 34 46.80 -00 05 22.0 19.9 VUEN004L01
PK18L050 C2018 06 21.40957 23 35 09.23 -00 02 42.8 19.2 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 21.41390 23 35 09.48 -00 02 42.0 18.8 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 21.41902 23 35 09.80 -00 02 39.2 19.4 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 21.42455 23 35 10.13 -00 02 37.6 18.7 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 KC2018 06 22.41900 23 36 10.55 +00 04 28.7 19.4 RoEN004291
PK18L050 KC2018 06 22.42275 23 36 10.88 +00 04 30.7 oEN004291
PK18L050 KC2018 06 22.42650 23 36 11.00 +00 04 31.7 19.4 RoEN004291
PK18L050 C2018 06 22.43305 23 36 11.41 +00 04 33.9 19.2 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 22.44081 23 36 11.86 +00 04 37.1 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 22.44657 23 36 12.19 +00 04 39.6 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 23.42649 23 37 10.77 +00 11 31.9 19.3 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 23.43023 23 37 11.03 +00 11 33.7 19.6 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 23.43402 23 37 11.20 +00 11 34.8 19.5 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 23.43846 23 37 11.46 +00 11 37.1 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 25.40104 23 39 05.89 +00 25 05.1 21.0 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 25.40548 23 39 06.08 +00 25 05.5 20.9 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 25.42189 23 39 06.88 +00 25 12.3 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 06 25.42510 23 39 07.06 +00 25 13.4 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 07 01.37831 23 44 27.76 +01 03 13.2 20.8 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 07 01.38355 23 44 28.01 +01 03 15.7 19.1 GUEN004I52
PK18L050 C2018 07 01.38789 23 44 28.14 +01 03 16.6 19.6 GUEN004I52
Observer details:
291 LPL/Spacewatch II. Observer J. V. Scotti. 1.8-m f/2.7 reflector + CCD.
691 Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak. Observer R. A. Mastaler. 0.9-m f/3
reflector + CCD.
G40 Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory. Observer B. Lutkenhoner. 0.5-m
f/6.8 Corrected Dall-Kirkham + CCD.
G96 Mt. Lemmon Survey. Observer G. J. Leonard. Measurers B. M. Africano,
E. J. Christensen, D. C. Fuls, A. R. Gibbs, A. D. Grauer, H. Groeller,
J. A. Johnson, R. A. Kowalski, S. M. Larson, G. J. Leonard, R. L. Seaman,
F. C. Shelly. 1.5-m reflector + 10K CCD.
H36 Sandlot Observatory, Scranton. Observer G. Hug. 0.56-m reflector + CCD.
I41 Palomar Mountain--ZTF. Measurer Q.-Z. Ye. 1.2-m Schmidt + ZTF camera.
I47 Pierre Auger Observatory, Malargue. Observer M. Masek. 0.3-m f/10
reflector + CCD.
I52 Steward Observatory, Mt. Lemmon Station. Observers B. M. Africano,
G. J. Leonard, R. A. Kowalski, H. Groeller, E. J. Christensen. Measurers
B. M. Africano, E. J. Christensen, D. C. Fuls, A. R. Gibbs, A. D. Grauer,
H. Groeller, J. A. Johnson, R. A. Kowalski, S. M. Larson, G. J. Leonard,
R. L. Seaman, F. C. Shelly. 1.0-m reflector + CCD.
L01 Visnjan Observatory, Tican. Observer K. Korlevic. 1.0-m f/2.9 reflector
+ CCD.
Q62 iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring. Observer H. Sato. 0.51-m f/6.8
astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer.
W96 CAO, San Pedro de Atacama (since 2013). Observers A. Maury, J.-B. de
Vanssay, J.-F. Soulier. Measurer J.-F. Soulier. 0.4-m f/5.2
Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.
Orbital elements:
P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
Epoch 2018 May 2.0 TT = JDT 2458240.5
T 2018 May 5.06416 TT MPCW
q 2.2955244 (2000.0) P Q
n 0.15106513 Peri. 94.20294 +0.68040038 +0.73244334
a 3.4916166 Node 218.70831 -0.68674587 +0.62576682
e 0.3425612 Incl. 2.21105 -0.25580350 +0.26822127
P 6.52
From 56 observations 2018 June 8-July 1, mean residual 0".5.
P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
Epoch 2024 Nov. 26.0 TT = JDT 2460640.5
T 2024 Nov. 17.77073 TT MPCW
q 2.2990754 (2000.0) P Q
n 0.15092095 Peri. 94.53595 +0.68317641 +0.72985649
a 3.4938402 Node 218.59277 -0.68436680 +0.62839887
e 0.3419632 Incl. 2.21169 -0.25477849 +0.26911775
P 6.53
From 56 observations 2018 June 8-July 1, mean residual 0".5.
P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
Epoch 2018 Mar. 23.0 TT = JDT 2458200.5
T 2018 May 5.05799 TT MPCW
q 2.2955272 (2000.0) P Q
n 0.15106539 Peri. 94.20064 +0.68037444 +0.73246742
a 3.4916127 Node 218.70858 -0.68676804 +0.62574243
e 0.3425596 Incl. 2.21105 -0.25581298 +0.26821238
P 6.52
From 56 observations 2018 June 8-July 1, mean residual 0".5.
Ephemeris:
P/2018 L5 (Leonard)
Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase m1 m2
2018 06 01 23 11 04.0 -02 48 20 2.2024 2.3025 82.6 25.9 19.8
...
2018 06 16 23 29 22.8 -00 42 59 2.0441 2.3123 91.9 26.0 19.7
...
2018 06 24 23 37 44.4 +00 15 32 1.9610 2.3193 97.2 25.8 19.6
...
2018 06 30 23 43 16.8 +00 54 50 1.9000 2.3252 101.4 25.4 19.6
2018 07 01 23 44 08.3 +01 00 58 1.8900 2.3263 102.1 25.3 19.5
2018 07 02 23 44 58.6 +01 06 59 1.8800 2.3274 102.8 25.2 19.5
...
2018 07 08 23 49 35.5 +01 40 17 1.8210 2.3342 107.3 24.6 19.5
...
2018 07 16 23 54 32.3 +02 16 41 1.7455 2.3442 113.5 23.4 19.4
...
2018 07 31 23 59 43.6 +02 57 06 1.6186 2.3660 126.3 20.2 19.3
Gareth V. Williams (C) Copyright 2018 MPC M.P.E.C. 2018-N04
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