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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2794      2012 Jan 17 16.47UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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MASTER-TUNKA: POSSIBLE COMET RECORDED 2012 JAN 15
P. Balanutsa et al., Moscow State University, Russia, have reported that 
they have recorded a possible comet at the MASTER-Tunka station 
(longitude +103° 4' 2.61", latitude=+51° 48' 36.00", altitude = 680 m) 
with the auto-detection system. It was initially image on 2012 Jan 
15.97258UT at:
RA 12h 53m 12.60s DEC +42d 27m 25.3s (2000).
The moving object was of unfiltered magnitude 17.5 on an exposure with a 
limit of 19.5. No known minor planet was predicted at this place. The 
image of the object shows it has a visible halo:

http://observ.pereplet.ru/images/possible_comet2012a/comet_like.jpg

It has also been recorded at the Amur site located:
Long. = 127° 28' 54" , Lat. = 50° 19' 06" N and altitude 215m.

The moving object was founded also by LINEAR (704: Lincoln Laboratory 
ETS, New Mexico) .

Available positions:
Date                RA           DEC             Mag     Station
2012 01 15.94094 12 53 13.01    +42 26 45.4     17.4    Master Tunka
2012 01 15.97258 12 53 12.60    +42 27 25.3     17.5    Master Tunka
2012 01 16.68987 12 53 12.60    +42 27 25.3     17.5    Master Tunka
2012-01-16.63242 12 53 02.86    +42 41 15.0     ?       Master Amur
2012-01-16.65740 12 53 02.10    +42 41 44.1     ?       Master Amur
2012-01-16.67166 12 53 02.23    +42 42 08.2     18.7    Master Amur
2012-01-16.68635 12 53 01.86    +42 42 27.7     ?       Master Amur

Further observations are urgently required.

Guy M Hurst