Comet P/2012 S2 (La Sagra)

Discovered on CCD images obtained in the course of the "La Sagra Sky Survey" with a 45-cm f/2.8 reflector located at "La Sagra" mountain in Spain on 2012 Sept. 23; the object was then described by J. Nomen (who reported the discovery on behalf of a larger group) as showing a small east-west elongation to a dense coma of size 4-6 arcsec. The discovery was announced by the International Astronomical Union's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams on CBET 3239.

The following orbital elements are taken from Minor Planet Electronic Circular 2012-T08.

Epoch 2012 Aug. 21.0 TT = JDT 2456160.5
T 2012 Aug. 18.9634 TT 
q 1.374667 (2000.0) P Q
n 0.1000546 Peri. 312.1748 +0.9896832 -0.0793991
a 4.595273 Node 52.7261 +0.1272155 +0.8698887
e 0.700852 Incl. 8.6195 -0.0659044 +0.4868157
P 9.85
From 102 observations 2012 Sept. 23-Oct. 1, mean residual 0".5.
 

Ephemeris

Ephemeris for the period 2012 Aug. 21 – 2013 Mar. 5 (based on above elements):

 
 P/2012 S2 (La Sagra) from orbital elements on MPEC 2012-T08
Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase Mag.
2012 08 21 03 38.10 +09 18.6 0.869 1.375 93.7 47.2 16.8
2012 08 22 03 40.90 +09 34.7 0.866 1.375 93.9 47.2 16.8
2012 08 23 03 43.68 +09 50.6 0.863 1.376 94.1 47.2 16.8
2012 08 24 03 46.44 +10 06.3 0.860 1.376 94.3 47.1 16.8
2012 08 25 03 49.17 +10 22.0 0.858 1.377 94.6 47.0 16.7
2012 08 26 03 51.88 +10 37.5 0.855 1.377 94.8 47.0 16.7
2012 08 27 03 54.57 +10 52.8 0.852 1.378 95.1 46.9 16.7
2012 08 28 03 57.22 +11 08.1 0.850 1.379 95.3 46.8 16.7
2012 08 29 03 59.86 +11 23.2 0.847 1.380 95.6 46.7 16.7
2012 08 30 04 02.46 +11 38.2 0.845 1.381 95.9 46.6 16.7
2012 08 31 04 05.04 +11 53.1 0.842 1.383 96.2 46.5 16.7
2012 09 01 04 07.58 +12 07.8 0.840 1.384 96.5 46.4 16.7
2012 09 02 04 10.10 +12 22.4 0.838 1.385 96.8 46.3 16.7
2012 09 03 04 12.59 +12 36.9 0.835 1.387 97.1 46.2 16.7
2012 09 04 04 15.05 +12 51.2 0.833 1.389 97.4 46.1 16.7
2012 09 05 04 17.47 +13 05.4 0.831 1.390 97.8 45.9 16.7
2012 09 06 04 19.87 +13 19.5 0.829 1.392 98.1 45.8 16.7
2012 09 07 04 22.23 +13 33.5 0.826 1.394 98.5 45.6 16.8
2012 09 08 04 24.55 +13 47.4 0.824 1.396 98.8 45.5 16.8
2012 09 09 04 26.85 +14 01.1 0.822 1.399 99.2 45.3 16.8
2012 09 10 04 29.10 +14 14.7 0.820 1.401 99.6 45.1 16.8
2012 09 11 04 31.32 +14 28.3 0.818 1.403 100.0 44.9 16.8
2012 09 12 04 33.51 +14 41.7 0.816 1.406 100.4 44.8 16.8
2012 09 13 04 35.66 +14 55.0 0.814 1.408 100.9 44.6 16.8
2012 09 14 04 37.76 +15 08.2 0.812 1.411 101.3 44.4 16.8
2012 09 15 04 39.83 +15 21.3 0.810 1.414 101.7 44.1 16.8
2012 09 16 04 41.86 +15 34.3 0.808 1.417 102.2 43.9 16.8
2012 09 17 04 43.85 +15 47.2 0.806 1.420 102.7 43.7 16.8
2012 09 18 04 45.80 +16 00.0 0.804 1.423 103.1 43.4 16.8
2012 09 19 04 47.70 +16 12.8 0.803 1.426 103.6 43.2 16.8
2012 09 20 04 49.56 +16 25.4 0.801 1.429 104.1 42.9 16.8
2012 09 21 04 51.38 +16 38.0 0.799 1.433 104.7 42.7 16.9
2012 09 22 04 53.16 +16 50.5 0.797 1.436 105.2 42.4 16.9
2012 09 23 04 54.89 +17 02.9 0.796 1.440 105.7 42.1 16.9
2012 09 24 04 56.58 +17 15.3 0.794 1.443 106.3 41.8 16.9
2012 09 25 04 58.22 +17 27.6 0.792 1.447 106.9 41.5 16.9
2012 09 26 04 59.81 +17 39.8 0.790 1.451 107.4 41.2 16.9
2012 09 27 05 01.36 +17 52.0 0.789 1.455 108.0 40.9 16.9
2012 09 28 05 02.86 +18 04.1 0.787 1.459 108.6 40.6 16.9
2012 09 29 05 04.32 +18 16.2 0.786 1.463 109.3 40.3 17.0
2012 09 30 05 05.72 +18 28.2 0.784 1.467 109.9 39.9 17.0
2012 10 01 05 07.08 +18 40.2 0.783 1.471 110.5 39.6 17.0
2012 10 02 05 08.39 +18 52.1 0.781 1.475 111.2 39.2 17.0
2012 10 03 05 09.64 +19 04.0 0.780 1.480 111.9 38.9 17.0
2012 10 04 05 10.85 +19 15.9 0.778 1.484 112.6 38.5 17.0
2012 10 05 05 12.00 +19 27.7 0.777 1.489 113.3 38.1 17.0
2012 10 06 05 13.10 +19 39.5 0.775 1.494 114.0 37.7 17.1
2012 10 07 05 14.15 +19 51.3 0.774 1.498 114.7 37.3 17.1
2012 10 08 05 15.14 +20 03.0 0.773 1.503 115.4 36.9 17.1
2012 10 09 05 16.08 +20 14.7 0.772 1.508 116.2 36.5 17.1
2012 10 10 05 16.97 +20 26.4 0.770 1.513 117.0 36.0 17.1
2012 10 11 05 17.80 +20 38.1 0.769 1.518 117.8 35.6 17.1
2012 10 12 05 18.57 +20 49.7 0.768 1.523 118.5 35.1 17.2
2012 10 13 05 19.29 +21 01.4 0.767 1.528 119.4 34.7 17.2
2012 10 14 05 19.95 +21 12.9 0.766 1.533 120.2 34.2 17.2
2012 10 15 05 20.56 +21 24.5 0.765 1.538 121.0 33.7 17.2
2012 10 16 05 21.10 +21 36.1 0.764 1.544 121.9 33.3 17.2
2012 10 17 05 21.59 +21 47.6 0.764 1.549 122.7 32.8 17.3
2012 10 18 05 22.02 +21 59.1 0.763 1.554 123.6 32.3 17.3
2012 10 19 05 22.40 +22 10.6 0.762 1.560 124.5 31.7 17.3
2012 10 20 05 22.72 +22 22.1 0.762 1.566 125.4 31.2 17.3
2012 10 21 05 22.98 +22 33.5 0.761 1.571 126.4 30.7 17.4
2012 10 22 05 23.18 +22 44.9 0.761 1.577 127.3 30.1 17.4
2012 10 23 05 23.32 +22 56.2 0.760 1.583 128.3 29.6 17.4
2012 10 24 05 23.41 +23 07.5 0.760 1.588 129.2 29.0 17.4
2012 10 25 05 23.44 +23 18.8 0.760 1.594 130.2 28.5 17.4
2012 10 26 05 23.42 +23 30.0 0.760 1.600 131.2 27.9 17.5
2012 10 27 05 23.34 +23 41.2 0.760 1.606 132.2 27.3 17.5
2012 10 28 05 23.20 +23 52.3 0.760 1.612 133.2 26.7 17.5
2012 10 29 05 23.01 +24 03.3 0.761 1.618 134.2 26.1 17.5
2012 10 30 05 22.77 +24 14.3 0.761 1.624 135.3 25.5 17.6
2012 10 31 05 22.47 +24 25.2 0.761 1.631 136.3 24.9 17.6
2012 11 01 05 22.11 +24 36.0 0.762 1.637 137.4 24.2 17.6
2012 11 02 05 21.71 +24 46.7 0.763 1.643 138.5 23.6 17.6
2012 11 03 05 21.26 +24 57.3 0.764 1.649 139.5 23.0 17.7
2012 11 04 05 20.75 +25 07.9 0.765 1.656 140.6 22.3 17.7
2012 11 05 05 20.19 +25 18.3 0.766 1.662 141.7 21.7 17.7
2012 11 06 05 19.59 +25 28.6 0.767 1.669 142.9 21.0 17.8
2012 11 07 05 18.94 +25 38.7 0.769 1.675 144.0 20.4 17.8
2012 11 08 05 18.24 +25 48.8 0.770 1.682 145.1 19.7 17.8
2012 11 09 05 17.50 +25 58.6 0.772 1.688 146.3 19.0 17.8
2012 11 10 05 16.72 +26 08.4 0.774 1.695 147.4 18.3 17.9
2012 11 11 05 15.90 +26 18.0 0.776 1.701 148.6 17.7 17.9
2012 11 12 05 15.03 +26 27.4 0.779 1.708 149.7 17.0 17.9
2012 11 13 05 14.13 +26 36.6 0.781 1.715 150.9 16.3 18.0
2012 11 14 05 13.20 +26 45.7 0.784 1.722 152.1 15.6 18.0
2012 11 15 05 12.23 +26 54.5 0.787 1.728 153.2 14.9 18.0
2012 11 16 05 11.23 +27 03.2 0.790 1.735 154.4 14.2 18.1
2012 11 17 05 10.20 +27 11.6 0.793 1.742 155.6 13.6 18.1
2012 11 18 05 09.15 +27 19.9 0.797 1.749 156.8 12.9 18.1
2012 11 19 05 08.08 +27 27.9 0.800 1.756 158.0 12.2 18.2
2012 11 20 05 06.98 +27 35.7 0.804 1.763 159.1 11.5 18.2
2012 11 21 05 05.86 +27 43.3 0.808 1.770 160.3 10.8 18.3
2012 11 22 05 04.73 +27 50.7 0.812 1.777 161.5 10.2 18.3
2012 11 23 05 03.59 +27 57.8 0.817 1.784 162.6 9.5 18.3
2012 11 24 05 02.43 +28 04.7 0.822 1.791 163.8 8.8 18.4
2012 11 25 05 01.27 +28 11.4 0.827 1.798 164.9 8.2 18.4
2012 11 26 05 00.10 +28 17.8 0.832 1.805 166.0 7.6 18.4
2012 11 27 04 58.92 +28 24.0 0.837 1.812 167.1 7.0 18.5
2012 11 28 04 57.75 +28 29.9 0.843 1.820 168.2 6.4 18.5
2012 11 29 04 56.57 +28 35.6 0.849 1.827 169.2 5.8 18.6
2012 11 30 04 55.40 +28 41.1 0.855 1.834 170.2 5.3 18.6
2012 12 01 04 54.23 +28 46.3 0.861 1.841 171.0 4.8 18.7
2012 12 02 04 53.07 +28 51.3 0.867 1.849 171.8 4.4 18.7
2012 12 03 04 51.92 +28 56.0 0.874 1.856 172.5 4.0 18.7
2012 12 04 04 50.78 +29 00.6 0.881 1.863 173.0 3.7 18.8
2012 12 05 04 49.65 +29 04.9 0.888 1.871 173.2 3.6 18.8
2012 12 06 04 48.54 +29 09.0 0.896 1.878 173.3 3.5 18.9
2012 12 07 04 47.45 +29 12.8 0.904 1.885 173.2 3.6 18.9
2012 12 08 04 46.38 +29 16.5 0.911 1.893 172.8 3.7 19.0
2012 12 09 04 45.33 +29 19.9 0.920 1.900 172.2 4.0 19.0
2012 12 10 04 44.30 +29 23.2 0.928 1.908 171.6 4.3 19.0
2012 12 11 04 43.29 +29 26.2 0.937 1.915 170.8 4.7 19.1
2012 12 12 04 42.31 +29 29.1 0.946 1.923 169.9 5.2 19.1
2012 12 13 04 41.36 +29 31.7 0.955 1.930 168.9 5.6 19.2
2012 12 14 04 40.44 +29 34.3 0.964 1.938 168.0 6.1 19.2
2012 12 15 04 39.55 +29 36.6 0.974 1.945 167.0 6.6 19.3
2012 12 16 04 38.69 +29 38.8 0.983 1.953 165.9 7.0 19.3
2012 12 17 04 37.86 +29 40.8 0.993 1.960 164.9 7.5 19.4
2012 12 18 04 37.07 +29 42.7 1.004 1.968 163.8 8.0 19.4
2012 12 19 04 36.31 +29 44.4 1.014 1.976 162.7 8.5 19.5
2012 12 20 04 35.59 +29 46.0 1.025 1.983 161.7 9.0 19.5
2012 12 21 04 34.90 +29 47.5 1.036 1.991 160.6 9.5 19.6
2012 12 22 04 34.25 +29 48.9 1.047 1.998 159.5 9.9 19.6
2012 12 23 04 33.64 +29 50.1 1.058 2.006 158.4 10.4 19.7
2012 12 24 04 33.06 +29 51.3 1.070 2.014 157.4 10.8 19.7
2012 12 25 04 32.52 +29 52.4 1.082 2.021 156.3 11.3 19.8
2012 12 26 04 32.02 +29 53.3 1.094 2.029 155.2 11.7 19.8
2012 12 27 04 31.55 +29 54.2 1.106 2.037 154.1 12.2 19.9
2012 12 28 04 31.13 +29 55.1 1.119 2.045 153.1 12.6 19.9
2012 12 29 04 30.74 +29 55.8 1.131 2.052 152.0 13.0 20.0
2012 12 30 04 30.39 +29 56.5 1.144 2.060 151.0 13.4 20.0
2012 12 31 04 30.07 +29 57.1 1.157 2.068 149.9 13.8 20.0
2013 01 01 04 29.80 +29 57.7 1.170 2.075 148.9 14.2 20.1
2013 01 02 04 29.56 +29 58.2 1.184 2.083 147.9 14.5 20.1
2013 01 03 04 29.36 +29 58.7 1.198 2.091 146.8 14.9 20.2
2013 01 04 04 29.19 +29 59.2 1.211 2.099 145.8 15.3 20.2
2013 01 05 04 29.07 +29 59.6 1.225 2.107 144.8 15.6 20.3
2013 01 06 04 28.97 +30 00.0 1.240 2.114 143.8 16.0 20.3
2013 01 07 04 28.92 +30 00.3 1.254 2.122 142.8 16.3 20.4
2013 01 08 04 28.90 +30 00.6 1.269 2.130 141.8 16.6 20.4
2013 01 09 04 28.91 +30 00.9 1.283 2.138 140.8 16.9 20.5
2013 01 10 04 28.97 +30 01.2 1.298 2.146 139.8 17.2 20.5
2013 01 11 04 29.05 +30 01.5 1.313 2.153 138.8 17.5 20.6
2013 01 12 04 29.17 +30 01.8 1.329 2.161 137.9 17.8 20.6
2013 01 13 04 29.33 +30 02.0 1.344 2.169 136.9 18.0 20.7
2013 01 14 04 29.52 +30 02.3 1.360 2.177 135.9 18.3 20.7
2013 01 15 04 29.74 +30 02.5 1.376 2.185 135.0 18.6 20.8
2013 01 16 04 29.99 +30 02.8 1.392 2.193 134.0 18.8 20.8
2013 01 17 04 30.28 +30 03.0 1.408 2.200 133.1 19.0 20.9
2013 01 18 04 30.60 +30 03.3 1.424 2.208 132.2 19.3 20.9
2013 01 19 04 30.94 +30 03.5 1.440 2.216 131.3 19.5 21.0
2013 01 20 04 31.32 +30 03.8 1.457 2.224 130.3 19.7 21.0
2013 01 21 04 31.73 +30 04.0 1.473 2.232 129.4 19.9 21.1
2013 01 22 04 32.17 +30 04.3 1.490 2.240 128.5 20.1 21.1
2013 01 23 04 32.64 +30 04.6 1.507 2.248 127.6 20.3 21.2
2013 01 24 04 33.13 +30 04.9 1.524 2.256 126.7 20.5 21.2
2013 01 25 04 33.66 +30 05.2 1.542 2.263 125.8 20.6 21.3
2013 01 26 04 34.21 +30 05.5 1.559 2.271 125.0 20.8 21.3
2013 01 27 04 34.78 +30 05.8 1.576 2.279 124.1 21.0 21.4
2013 01 28 04 35.38 +30 06.1 1.594 2.287 123.2 21.1 21.4
2013 01 29 04 36.01 +30 06.4 1.612 2.295 122.3 21.3 21.4
2013 01 30 04 36.66 +30 06.8 1.630 2.303 121.5 21.4 21.5
2013 01 31 04 37.34 +30 07.1 1.648 2.311 120.6 21.5 21.5
2013 02 01 04 38.04 +30 07.5 1.666 2.319 119.8 21.6 21.6
2013 02 02 04 38.76 +30 07.8 1.684 2.326 118.9 21.8 21.6
2013 02 03 04 39.50 +30 08.2 1.702 2.334 118.1 21.9 21.7
2013 02 04 04 40.27 +30 08.6 1.721 2.342 117.3 22.0 21.7
2013 02 05 04 41.06 +30 09.0 1.739 2.350 116.4 22.1 21.8
2013 02 06 04 41.87 +30 09.4 1.758 2.358 115.6 22.2 21.8
2013 02 07 04 42.70 +30 09.8 1.777 2.366 114.8 22.2 21.9
2013 02 08 04 43.55 +30 10.2 1.795 2.374 114.0 22.3 21.9
2013 02 09 04 44.42 +30 10.6 1.814 2.382 113.1 22.4 21.9
2013 02 10 04 45.32 +30 11.0 1.833 2.390 112.3 22.5 22.0
2013 02 11 04 46.23 +30 11.4 1.852 2.397 111.5 22.5 22.0
2013 02 12 04 47.16 +30 11.8 1.872 2.405 110.7 22.6 22.1
2013 02 13 04 48.11 +30 12.3 1.891 2.413 109.9 22.6 22.1
2013 02 14 04 49.07 +30 12.7 1.910 2.421 109.1 22.7 22.2
2013 02 15 04 50.06 +30 13.1 1.930 2.429 108.4 22.7 22.2
2013 02 16 04 51.06 +30 13.5 1.949 2.437 107.6 22.7 22.3
2013 02 17 04 52.07 +30 13.9 1.969 2.445 106.8 22.8 22.3
2013 02 18 04 53.11 +30 14.4 1.988 2.453 106.0 22.8 22.3
2013 02 19 04 54.16 +30 14.8 2.008 2.460 105.2 22.8 22.4
2013 02 20 04 55.22 +30 15.2 2.028 2.468 104.5 22.8 22.4
2013 02 21 04 56.30 +30 15.6 2.048 2.476 103.7 22.8 22.5
2013 02 22 04 57.40 +30 16.0 2.068 2.484 102.9 22.8 22.5
2013 02 23 04 58.50 +30 16.4 2.088 2.492 102.2 22.8 22.5
2013 02 24 04 59.63 +30 16.8 2.108 2.500 101.4 22.8 22.6
2013 02 25 05 00.76 +30 17.2 2.128 2.508 100.7 22.8 22.6
2013 02 26 05 01.91 +30 17.6 2.148 2.515 99.9 22.8 22.7
2013 02 27 05 03.07 +30 17.9 2.168 2.523 99.2 22.8 22.7
2013 02 28 05 04.24 +30 18.3 2.188 2.531 98.4 22.8 22.8
2013 03 01 05 05.43 +30 18.6 2.209 2.539 97.7 22.8 22.8
2013 03 02 05 06.63 +30 19.0 2.229 2.547 97.0 22.7 22.8
2013 03 03 05 07.84 +30 19.3 2.249 2.555 96.2 22.7 22.9
2013 03 04 05 09.06 +30 19.6 2.270 2.562 95.5 22.7 22.9
2013 03 05 05 10.29 +30 19.9 2.290 2.570 94.8 22.6 22.9
H = 15.0, 2.5n = 15 
 

Astrometry

A list of published articles/papers related to comet P/2012 R2 (La Sagra) may be retrieved from the Astrophysics Data System here.