Re: P223bel = COMET 213P-B/VAN NESS
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Hi Piero and Adrien,
It has been officially identified by the MPC as 213P... I'm not 100% sure that identification is correct due to the magnitude difference, but this comet is prone to outbursts so it's hard to say for sure. There are September 2023 DECam images at the comet's expected location which are proprietary until March which would help clear up the confusion.
If it isn't 213P, it's definitely NOT 213P-B. I calculated an orbit including -B's 2011 observations and these 2024 observations, and there is nothing at the expected position down to at least V=23.5 in 2017 (a full ten magnitudes fainter than the main comet at the time). As best as I can tell -B disintegrated in 2011 (Sekanina models that it separated from the main comet in 2005 shortly before discovery)
The comet also produced -C and -D fragments which were absorbed even more sparsely in 2011.
~Sam
On Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 11:49:47 AM PST, Sormano Astronomical Observatory <obs2.sormano@...> wrote:
Hi Adrien,
As far as I know, in addition to the main one, we only have the B component. The problem to be clarified is whether the observations of PCCP - P223bel - are to be referred to 213P or 213P-B.
Given the small arc of P223bel and the similarity of the orbits, both possibilities remain open. My choice fell on 213P-B only because, from a quick calculation, the observations of the latter fit better.
In any case a more in-depth analysis? surely will be able to solve the problem.
?
Regards
Piero Sicoli
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