New comet discovered – C/2013 L2 (Catalina)
New discovery of an apparently asteroidal object with cometary features was announced on June 9, 2013 (CBET 3548). New comet (discovery magnitude ~19.6) was found by R. A. Kowalski on CCD images obtained with the Catalina Sky Survey 0.68-m Schmidt telescope on June 02, 2013. New discovery was confirmed by Minor Planet Center and the new comet has been officially named C/2013 L2 (CATALINA).
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Image showing C 2013 L2 CATALINA captured by Ernesto Guido & Nick Howes of Remanzacco Observatory in Italy on June 4,5 2013 (Credit : Ernesto Guido & Nick Howes, Remanzacco Observatory)
The team of observers of Remanzacco Observatory in Italy performed follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the MPC's NEO confirmation page. Stacking of 18 R-filtered exposures, 30-sec each (obtained remotely, from the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North on June 4 and 5, 2013) through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD (operated by Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network), showed that this object is a comet having sharp central condensation, surrounded by a faint coma nearly 4" in diameter.
JPL's orbital diagram of Comet C/2013 L2 (Catalina)
Featured image: CometC 2013 L2 CATALINA captured by Remanzacco Observatory team in Italy on June 4,5 2013 (Credit : Ernesto Guido & Nick Howes, Remanzacco Observatory)
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