Electronic Telegram No. 8
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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COMET C/2003 A2
     Arianna E. Gleason, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, reports her
discovery of a slow-moving comet on Jan. 10.4 UT (discovery position
below) with the Spacewatch II telescope at Kitt Peak; J. V. Scotti adds
that there was a more-or-less symmetrical coma about 20" across.  On
making follow-up observations on Jan. 11.3 (after placement on The NEO
Confirmation Page) D. T. Durig and H. H. Fry (Sewanee, TN, 0.3-m
f/5.75 Schmidt-Cassegrain) confirmed a coma 15"-18" in diameter,
and F. B. Zoltowski (Edgewood, NM, 0.3-m f/3.3 Schmidt-Cassegrain)
noted that the coma/tail structure had the appearance of a broad fan
from p.a. 20 deg northward through p.a. 200 deg.  On Jan. 12.0 J. Ticha
and M. Tichy (Klet Observatory, 1.06-m KLENOT Telescope) indicated
coma diameter 8"-10", with m1 = 20.2, m2 = 21.0.  The object's cometary
nature was also noted by T. Gehrels (Spacewatch II) on Jan. 11-13 and by
J. G. Ries (McDonald Observatory, 0.76-m reflector) on Jan. 14.3.

     2003 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.        m1
     Jan. 10.39264    8 55 59.44   +13 36 48.5   20.0

     MPEC 2003-A78 contains the full astrometry and a very tentative
parabolic orbit (assumed T = 2003 Jan. 10; hence q = 11.5 AU, i = 8 deg).
It seems likely that the object is a Centaur, showing cometary activity
as (2060) = 95P/Chiron has shown near perihelion.



NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are intended to
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      formal IAU Circulars.  Citations should normally be made to IAUCs
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                         (C) Copyright 2003 CBAT
2003 January 14                   (CBET 8)                Brian G. Marsden