C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)

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C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)
AU (a)
Eccentricity0.99850 (e)
Orbital period~8000 yr
(Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[2]
Inclination82.60839° (i)
Last perihelion2013-03-24.516

C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) is a

aphelion. This also leads to the comet's long-period nature with an orbital period of approximately 8,000 years based on epoch
2050. The comet last reached perihelion on 24 March 2013.

For much of 2012, observation of Lemmon remained limited to CCD imagery, but steadily brightened throughout the course of the year. In late-November 2012, the comet became bright enough for telescopic viewing, and had an apparent magnitude estimated at +9 by the year's end. Brightening continued into the early months of 2013 before peaking at an apparent magnitude of +5 in late March, though viewing was mostly limited to the Southern Hemisphere. On 24 March 2013, Lemmon reached its orbital perihelion and afterwards began to dim. On 20 April 2013, Lemmon crossed the celestial equator and became primarily viewable in the Northern Hemisphere, though by this time the comet was significantly dimmer relative to its peak brightness.[3]

Discovery

A.R. Gibbs of the

arc seconds across.[4]

Observational history

Following discovery, Lemmon remained a dim object but steadily brightened over the next few months. The comet was last sighted on 14 June 2012 with an apparent magnitude estimated at +19.0 before it was lost in the Sun's glare. On 25 August, the comet was analyzed to have passed an apparent 0.7 degrees from the Sun. The comet was re-sighted on 14 October utilizing the

arc minutes across and an apparent magnitude estimated at +9.[4]

It was well placed for viewing in the

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]

On 11 August 2014, astronomers released studies, using the

comae of comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2012 S1 (ISON).[9][10]

Gallery

References

  1. ^
    IAU Minor Planet Center
    . 26 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. barycentric coordinates
    . Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  3. ^ Yoshida, Seiichi. "C/2012 F6 ( Lemmon )". aerith.net. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Kronk, Gary W. "C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)". Cometography.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  5. ^ G.V.Schiaparelli (26 March 2012). "New comets COMET P/2012 F5 (Gibbs) & C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)". "G.V.Schiaparelli" Astronomical Observatory. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Musgrave, Ian (22 April 2013). "Comet C/2012 F6 Lemmon in STEREO, April 17-19 2013". Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  8. ^ King, Bob (2 May 2013). "Sweeten your May mornings with Comet Lemmon". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  9. ^ Zubritsky, Elizabeth; Neal-Jones, Nancy (11 August 2014). "RELEASE 14-038 - NASA's 3-D Study of Comets Reveals Chemical Factory at Work". NASA. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  10. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/792/1/L2
    .

External links
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