Faint comets recovery: P/2001 BB50 (LINEAR-NEAT), 2007 RJ236 (Lemmon-PANSTARRS)
P/2001 BB50 = P/2014 K1 = 301P/LINEAR-NEAT was recovered on May, 17th, 2014 by PANSTARRS Sky Survey at 20.5 mag (probably, the magnitude is underestimated, as the vast majority of PANSTARRS estimates; actually, comet can be brighter by 1 mag approximately). Having an orbital period of 13,7 years, comet was recovered near its maximum brightness in the apparition of 2014 (it was significantly fainter of the expected magnitude, based upon the comet’s light curve in 2001). Comet was discovered during the last 2001 apparition by LINEAR (New Mexico, USA) and NEAT (Hawaii, USA) Sky Surveys independently. LINEAR discovered object before, having observed it for two nights (on 21st and 26th of January, 2001), but failing to reveal its cometary nature. Cometary activity was discovered on NEAT images two months later, on 21st of March. The maximum brightness in 2001 apparition was of 17-18 mag.
Information source:
IAUC 7601: P/2001 BB50 (LINEAR-NEAT)
301P/LINEAR-NEAT past, present and future orbits by Kazuo Kinoshita
MPEC 2014-K21 : P/2001 BB50 = 2014 K1 (LINEAR-NEAT)
CBET 3874 : 20140521 : COMET P/2014 K1 = P/2001 BB_50 (LINEAR-NEAT)
2007 RJ236 = P/2004 K2 = 302P/Lemmon-PANSTARRS. Asteroid 2007 RJ236 that had been previously discovered in 2007 revealed cometary activity on images obtained by PANSTARRS Sky Survey on May, 21st, 2014. Having a relatively small eccentricity e (0.23), orbital period of newly recognized comet is of about 9 years. At recovery the comet was of magnitude 21. 302P/Lemmon-PANSTARRS will attain maximum brightness (~19m) in 2016, when passing nearest perihelion then.
Information source:
MPEC 2014-K28 : P/2007 RJ236 = 2014 K2 (Lemmon-PANSTARRS)
CBET 3878 : 20140523 : COMET P/2014 K2 = 2007 RJ_236 (LEMMON-PANSTARRS)
302P/Lemmon-PANSTARRS past, present and future orbits by Kazuo Kinoshita
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