C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)
 Comet Lemmon in Tucana on 16 February 2013 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | A. R. Gibbs Mt. Lemmon Survey (G96)[1] |
| Discovery date | 23 March 2012 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 28 October 2012 (JD 2456228.5) |
| Aphelion | 973.47895 AU (Q) |
| Perihelion | 0.73126 AU (q) |
| Semi-major axis | 487.1051 AU (a) |
| Eccentricity | 0.99850 (e) |
| Orbital period | ~8000 yr (Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[2] |
| Inclination | 82.60839° (i) |
| Last perihelion | 2013-03-24.516 |
C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) is a long-period comet discovered in Leo on 23 March 2012, by A. R. Gibbs[1] using the 1.5-m reflector at the Mt. Lemmon Survey, located at the summit of Mount Lemmon in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona, USA. The comet peaked at an apparent magnitude of 5.[3]
Discovery
A.R. Gibbs of the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona discovered the comet based on images acquired by the sky survey's 1.5-m reflecting telescope on 23 March 2012.[4] However, Gibbs did not recognize its cometary appearance and was listed as an asteroid on the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object confirmation page.[5] At the time, the apparent magnitude of the comet was estimated between +20.6 and +20.8. Shortly after initial discovery, amateur astronomer Peter Birtwhistle in Great Shefford observed the comet using a 40-cm refracting telescope and CCD images, estimating an apparent magnitude of +20.1 and a diameter stretching 5 arc seconds across.[4]
Observing prospects
It was well placed for viewing in the southern hemisphere in January 2013 to observe it brightening, crossing Centaurus, Crux and Chameleon, and into February when it was circumpolar in Octans. By the end of February it set early evening situated in Phoenix, was observable well into March. After perihelion the comet should be reasonably well placed in the morning sky to observe as it fades.[6] The comet was visible in the STEREO heliospheric imager HI-2A starting on 17 April.[7]
C/2012 F6 crossed the celestial equator on 20 April 2013 becoming a northern hemisphere object. On 9 May 2013 the comet was near Gamma Pegasi and from a dark sky was visible in binoculars before sunrise low in the eastern sky.[8]
Gallery
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Comets Lemmon and C/2011 L4 from Las Campanas Observatory on 1 March
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Comet Lemmon on 1 March from Mount Burnett Observatory -
Lemmon in conjunction with C/2011 L4 and a meteoroid trail from Paranal Observatory on 5 March
_-_1_Mar_2013.jpg)
References
- ^ a b "MPEC 2012-F88 : COMET C/2012 F6 (LEMMON)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)". Retrieved 23 April 2013. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
- ^ Yoshida, Seiichi. "C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon )". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ a b Kronk, Gary W. "C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)". Cometography.com. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ G.V.Schiaparelli (26 March 2012). "New comets COMET P/2012 F5 (Gibbs) & C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)". "G.V.Schiaparelli" Astronomical Observatory. WordPress. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ "CAMnotes 2013 No. 1 January-March" (PDF). Tim Cooper, Director, Comet Asteroid and Meteor Section, Astron.Soc.Southern Africa. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ Musgrave, Ian (22 April 2013). "Comet C/2012 F6 Lemmon in STEREO, April 17-19 2013". Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ King, Bob (2 May 2013). "Sweeten your May mornings with Comet Lemmon". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
External links
- South African photo gallery of C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon ) (@ psychohistorian.org)
- C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon ) - Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
- C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) animated orbit diagram – Shadow & Substance
- Tails of Comet Lemmon (APOD 2013 May 6)
- Comet Lemmon (Damian Peach 2013 May 15)
