Cometary activity detected on active asteroid P/2018 P3
ATel #16405; Fernando Abarzuza (Light Bridges), Zhong-Yi Lin (IANCU), Miquel Serra-Ricart (Light Bridges)
on 14 Jan 2024; 10:50 UT
Credential Certification: Miquel Serra-Ricart (mserra@iac.es)
Subjects: Optical, Asteroid, Comet, Solar System Object
We have observed cometary activity around the active asteroid P/2018 P3 during different observations that took place on 2023 Dec 16 and 17, and 2024 Jan 7 and 8. Due to the faintness of the object (calibrated at mag 20.1±0.2 in the g′ band and 19.5±0.2 in the r′ band on 2024 Jan 7.85), multiple images have been stacked using ephemeris information, to increase SNR. Stacks reveal a tail-like structure that spans in anti-solar direction (see example from 2023 Dec 16 using 100 images of 30 s exposition time each). The radial profile of the comet, compared to 4 reference stars, also behaves in a non-stellar manner (see radial profile associated to the previous stack, FWHM of reference stars = 5.0±0.1 pixels, FWHM of P/2018 P3 = 7.1±0.3 pixels). The evidence of activity since 2023 Dec 16 shows that P/2018 P3 has been losing mass for at least 25 days, coinciding with its perihelion passage on 2023 Dec 27.
This work is based on observations carried out by LOT 1 meter telescope, in Lulin observatory (MPC code: D35), Taiwan, with observing time provided by IANCU; and the 80 cm telescope (Y65), of the Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT) that Light Bridges operates on the Teide Observatory of the IAC, Canary Islands (Spain), with observing time rights (DTO) provided by Instituto de Astrofísico de Canarias.
