* Astronomy

G. J. Garradd has announced the discovery of Comet 2007 R4 (Garradd) on the 14th September 2007, via the Siding Spring survey. The magnitude 18 object was confirmed by A. C. Gilmore, P. M. Kilmartin (Mount John Observatory, Lake Tekapo) and C. Jacques, E. Pimentel (CEAMIG-REA Observatory).
Preliminary orbital elements indicate a perihelion passage on 26th September at a distance of 1.9 AU from the Sun; and a period of 14.3 years.

IAUC 8870 (Subscription)

Date    TT    R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.  Phase  mag 
2007 09 17    02 15.59   -26 45.5    1.080    1.926   134.9    21.7  17.5
2007 09 22    02 16.06   -27 03.2    1.064    1.924   137.0    20.9  17.5
2007 09 27    02 15.66   -27 13.9    1.052    1.923   138.8    20.1  17.5
2007 10 02    02 14.46   -27 16.3    1.043    1.924   140.5    19.3  17.4
2007 10 07    02 12.56   -27 09.0    1.039    1.926   141.8    18.7  17.4
2007 10 12    02 10.08   -26 50.9    1.038    1.929   142.8    18.2  17.4
2007 10 17    02 07.20   -26 21.1    1.041    1.934   143.2    18.0  17.5
2007 10 22    02 04.11   -25 39.3    1.049    1.940   143.2    17.9  17.5
2007 10 27    02 00.99   -24 45.7    1.061    1.948   142.7    18.0  17.5

Comet 2007 R4 (Garradd).kmz
Google Sky file

-- Edited by Blobrana at 14:45, 2008-01-12