Electronic Telegram No. 165
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html


COMET P/2005 L3 (McNAUGHT)
     R. H. McNaught has reported his discovery of a comet (discovery position
below) with the 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt in the course of the Siding Spring
Survey.  60-s exposures on June 3.8 UT showed a condensation of diameter 10",
while 20-s exposures on June 4.6 showed diameter about 8" in worse seeing.
Observations by A. C. Gilmore (Mt. John Observatory, 1.0-m f/7.7 reflector) on
June 4.6 showed the object to be slightly more diffuse than the surrounding
stars, although the object's nature was unclear in poor seeing on June 5.6.

     2005 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.   Observer
     June  3.67556   21 36 01.71   -33 05 00.3   17.7   McNaught

     The full set of 29 astrometric observations, very preliminary equinox
2000.0 parabolic orbital elements (T = 2008 Jan. 10, Peri. = 51 deg,
Node = 289 deg, i = 139 deg, q = 5.335 AU) and an ephemeris are given on
MPEC 2005-L17.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the formal IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2005 CBAT
2005 June 5                      (CBET 165)               Brian G. Marsden