IAUC 7827: P/2001 WF_2; S/2002 (3749) 1

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                                                  Circular No. 7827Central Bureau for Astronomical TelegramsINTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNIONMailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html  ISSN 0081-0304Phone 617-495-7440/7244/7444 (for emergency use only)COMET P/2001 WF_2 (LONEOS)     An apparently asteroidal object discovered by LONEOS(discovery observation below) and designated 2001 WF_2 (cf.MPEC2001-W42) has been found to have a well-defined 45" tail in p.a.320 deg on CCD images obtained on Feb. 13.5 UT by T. B. Spahr withthe 1.2-m reflector at Mount Hopkins.  Following notification bySpahr, C. W. Hergenrother also found a 27" tail in p.a. 320 deg anda stellar central condensation on a 1500-s co-added R-band imagetaken with the Catalina 1.54-m reflector.     2001 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.        m2     Nov. 17.27290    3 17 53.91   - 5 02 05.4   18.9     Additional astrometry, the following orbital elements, and anephemeris appear onMPEC 2002-C94:                    Epoch = 2002 Feb. 15.0 TT     T = 2002 Jan. 29.84804 TT        Peri. =  51.35236     e = 0.6667243                    Node  =  75.13262 2000.0     q = 0.9763511 AU                 Incl. =  16.92268       a =  2.9295595 AU   n = 0.19656246   P =   5.014 yearsS/2002 (3749) 1     W. J. Merline, Southwest Research Institute; L. M. Close andN. Siegler, University of Arizona; C. Dumas, Jet PropulsionLaboratory; C. Chapman, Southwest Research Institute; F. Rigaut,Gemini Observatory; F. Menard, Observatoire de Grenoble; W. M.Owen, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and D. C. Slater, SouthwestResearch Institute, report the discovery on Feb. 8.4 UT of asatellite of (3749) Balam (V = 15.5; estimated diameter 7 km) fromJ-, H-, and K'-band direct imaging with the 8.1-m Gemini NorthTelescope (+ Hokupa'a adaptive optics system) on Mauna Kea:  "Thesatellite shows no detectable motion over a 3.1-hr baseline,consistent with the expected period (of order 80 days) for thislarge orbit.  A search for known background/foreground small bodieswith similar position and velocity reveals no candidates brighterthan mag 21.  The brightness ratio in band H is about 3.3 mag,giving an estimated diameter of the satellite of about 1.5 km.  OnFeb. 8.4311, the secondary was at 0".47 separation with positionangle 115 deg."                      (C) Copyright 2002 CBAT2002 February 13               (7827)            Daniel W. E. Green

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