Astronomical Research Institute

NEO impact near earth objects Research of near earth objects near earth asteroid Killer Asteroid Project nasa's near earth object observation program Student education in astronomy asteroid impact student NEO observations near earth object Researching near earth astroids  

Edgar Wilson Award presented for the discovery of comet Holmes

 

Comet C/2008 N1 (Holmes)

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/mpec/K08/K08N19.html

Comet C/2008 N1 (Holmes) was discovered by R. Holmes at the Astronomical Research Institute while making routine astrometric measures of near earth object 2008 JZ30 using the Astronomical Research Institute 0.61m astrograph.  The object appeared asteroidal at unfiltered magnitude 20.2, however displayed unusual motion.  After running the data through the NEO Observations rating page, it returned a value of 100.  The object was immediately placed on the NEO confirmation page.  Because the object was located so far from the sun, the object displayed virtually no cometary features.  It took 7 days of confirmation data to confirm the object as a comet.  A total of 11 observatories around the world were involved in the confirmation of C/2008 N1.

Comet C/2008 N1 (Holmes) does not have an elliptical orbit which means it is not a periodic comet.  This comet will make just one trip into the Solar System and will never return due to its characteristic hyperbolic orbit.  Preliminary orbital elements of comet C/2008 N1 (Holmes) indicate a perihelion passage will occur on September 24, 2009, at a distance of 2.7 AU from the Sun.  The original Minor Planet Electronic Circular may be read by clicking on the following link MPEC 2008-N19. 

 

Additional Data and Observations by Sergio Foglia,

 

Projected magnitude of C/2008 N1 (Holmes) from May 2008 through May 2011

 

Constellation Chart with Path of C2008 N1 Holmes