C/2007 N3 (LULIN)

C/2007 N3 (LULIN)

Orbit by Kazuo Kinoshita

Discovery

This object was initially described as an asteroidal object, when found by Quanzhi Ye (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) on three images obtained by Chi Sheng Lin (Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Jung-Li, Taiwan) on 2007 July 11. Lin had acquired the images using the 0.41-m Ritchey-Chretien and a CCD camera at Lulin Observatory. The magnitude was given as 18.9. Several confirming observations were obtained; however, on July 17, J. Young (Table Mountain Observatory, California, USA) noted a coma 2Ð3" across, with a bright central core.

Historical Highlights

Using 76 positions spanning the period of 2007 July 11 to 17, B. G. Marsden calculated a parabolic orbit with a perihelion date of 2009 January 7.35. Even more interesting was the perihelion distance of 1.19 AU. Marsden revised his calculations a couple of days later. Using 89 positions spanning the period of July 11 to 19, he determined the perihelion date as January 14.95 and the perihelion distance as 1.24 AU.

The comet will pass 0.41 AU from Earth on 2009 February 24. Current brightness estimates indicate the comet should then be around magnitude 6.0.

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C/2007 N3 (LULIN)

Orbit by Kazuo Kinoshita
Discovery This object was initially described as an asteroidal object, when found by Quanzhi Ye (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) on three images obtained by Chi Sheng Lin (Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Jung-Li, Taiwan) on 2007 July 11. Lin had acquired the images using the 0.41-m Ritchey-Chretien and a CCD camera at Lulin Observatory. The magnitude was given as 18.9. Several confirming observations were obtained; however, on July 17, J. Young (Table Mountain Observatory, California, USA) noted a coma 2Ð3" across, with a bright central core. Historical Highlights Using 76 positions spanning the period of 2007 July 11 to 17, B. G. Marsden calculated a parabolic orbit with a perihelion date of 2009 January 7.35. Even more interesting was the perihelion distance of 1.19 AU. Marsden revised his calculations a couple of days later. Using 89 positions spanning the period of July 11 to 19, he determined the perihelion date as January 14.95 and the perihelion distance as 1.24 AU. The comet will pass 0.41 AU from Earth on 2009 February 24. Current brightness estimates indicate the comet should then be around magnitude 6.0.
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