This page contains brief information on recent astronomical discoveries as reported in the International Astronomical Union Circulars (IAUCs) (published by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams) and the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs) (published by the Minor Planet Center), as well as links to ephemerides and orbital elements for comets and minor planets. The objects below are listed in chronological order of announcement, by category of object, the most recent first.

Note

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Some Press Information Sheets are available.

Comets

Links to other comet-related websites, previously listed here, have been moved to the International Comet Quarterly webpages.

Ephemerides and orbital elements for (potentially) observable comets.
Recent comet discoveries and recoveries:
- Note that near-sun comets observed only from space are generally excluded from this listing.
- C/2008 J2 (Beshore). Discovery via the Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8941, 2008 May 7.
- C/2008 J1 (Boattini). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8940, 2008 May 3.
- C/2008 H1 (LINEAR). Discovery by the LINEAR survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8938, 2008 Apr. 23.
- P/2006 B7 (LINEAR). Re-discovery of P/1998 X1 by G. V. Williams in survey astrometry; had been reported as diffuse in single-night 2005 possible-recovery images by E. Christensen via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8929, 2008 Mar. 31.
- P/2008 G2 (Shoemaker). Re-discovery of P/1994 J3 as apparently asteroidal in Catalina Sky Survey data by Minor Planet Center staff members. CBET 1347, 2008 Apr. 19.
- C/2008 G1 (Gibbs). Discovery by A. R. Gibbs via the Mount Lemmon survey. IAUC 8932, 2008 Apr. 9.
- C/2008 E3 (Garradd). Discovery by G. J. Garradd via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8927, 2008 Mar. 8.
- 197P/2008 E2 (LINEAR). Re-discovery of P/2003 KV₂ as apparently asteroidal by the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8924, 2008 Mar. 4.
- C/2008 E1 (Catalina). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the Catalina Sky Survey, then found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8923, 2008 Mar. 4.
- 196P/2008 C2 (Tichy). Recovery of comet P/2000 U6. IAUC 8917, 2008 Feb. 5.
- C/2008 C1 (Chen-Gao). Discovery by amateur astronomer Tao Chen on CCD images taken by amateur astronomer Xing Gao. IAUC 8915, 2008 Feb. 3.
- P/2007 VQ₁₁ (Catalina). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the Catalina Sky Survey, then found to be cometary by Catalina three months later. IAUC 8914, 2008 Feb. 1.
- C/2008 A2 (LINEAR). Discovery by the LINEAR survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8912, 2008 Jan. 19.
- C/2007 VO₅₃ (Spacewatch). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the Spacewatch survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8911, 2008 Jan. 18.
- C/2008 A1 (McNaught). Discovery by R. H. McNaught via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8909, 2008 Jan. 11.
- C/2007 Y2 (McNaught). Discovery by R. H. McNaught via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8908, 2008 Jan. 2.
- C/2007 Y1 (LINEAR). Discovery by the LINEAR survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8904, 2007 Dec. 18.
- C/2007 W3 (LINEAR). Discovery by the LINEAR survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8901, 2007 Dec. 3.
- 194P/2007 W2 (LINEAR). Recovery by L. Buzzi and F. Luppi of P/2000 B3. IAUC 8900, 2007 Nov. 27.
- C/2007 W1 (Boattini). Discovery by Andrea Boattini via the Mt. Lemmon Sky Survey. IAUC 8899, 2007 Nov. 23.
- P/2007 V2 (Hill). Discovery by Rik Hill via the Mt. Lemmon Sky Survey. IAUC 8894, 2007 Nov. 10.
- P/2007 V1 (Larson). Discovery by Steve Larson via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8893, 2007 Nov. 9.
- P/2007 U2 (LINEAR-NEAT). Recovery by K. Sarneczky and L. L. Kiss of P/2001 Q5. IAUC 8885, 2007 Oct. 22.
- C/2007 U1 (LINEAR). Discovery by the LINEAR survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8884, 2007 Oct. 22.
- P/2007 T6 (Catalina). Discovery by the Catalina Sky Survey (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8881, 2007 Oct. 15.
- C/2007 T5 (Gibbs). Discovery by A. R. Gibbs via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8880, 2007 Oct. 15.
- C/2007 T4 (Gibbs). Discovery by A. R. Gibbs via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8880, 2007 Oct. 15.
- P/2007 T3 (Shoemaker-Levy). Recovery by Rob McNaught of P/1990 V1. IAUC 8879, 2007 Oct. 13.
- P/2007 T2 (Kowalski). Discovery by R. A. Kowalski via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8878, 2007 Oct. 11.
- C/2007 T1 (McNaught). Discovery by Rob McNaught via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8877, 2007 Oct. 9.
- C/2007 S2 (Lemmon). Discovery via the Mt. Lemmon survey. IAUC 8876, 2007 Oct. 3.
- P/2007 S1 (Zhao). Discovery by Haibin Zhao at Purple Mountain Observatory. IAUC 8873, 2007 Sept. 20.
- P/2007 R5 (SOHO). Recovery via the SOHO spacecraft of an apparent comet recognized has having been seen in SOHO images from 1999 and 2003. IAUC 8872, 2007 Sept. 18.
- P/2007 R4 (Garradd). Discovery by Gordon Garradd via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8870, 2007 Sept. 17.
- P/2007 R3 (Gibbs). Discovery by A. R. Gibbs via the Mt. Lemmon Sky Survey. IAUC 8869, 2007 Sept. 16.
- P/2007 R2 (Gibbs). Discovery by A. R. Gibbs via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8868, 2007 Sept. 12.
- P/2007 R1 (Larson). Discovery by Steve Larson via the Mt. Lemmon Sky Survey. IAUC 8867, 2007 Sept. 9.
- C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8865, 2007 August 30.
- P/2007 Q2 (Gilmore). Discovered by Alan C. Gilmore as asteroidal, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8865, 2007 August 30.
- C/2007 Q1 (Garradd). Discovery by G. J. Garradd via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8863, 2007 August 24.
- C/2007 P1 (McNaught). Discovery by Rob McNaught via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8861, 2007 August 9.
- 190P/2007 O2 (Mueller). Recovery of P/1998 U2. IAUC 8859, 2007 July 27.
- C/2007 O1 (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8858, 2007 July 18.
- C/2007 N3 (Lulin). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in the course of the Lulin Sky Survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8857, 2007 July 17.
- 189P/2007 N2 (NEAT). Recovery of P/2002 O5. IAUC 8856, 2007 July 16.
- 191P/2007 N1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey; identified later with observations in 2000. IAUC 8855, 2007 July 12.
- 188P/2007 J7 (LINEAR-Mueller). Recovery of P/1998 S1 at Siding Spring and Kitt Peak. IAUC 8853, 2007 June 26.
- C/2007 M3 (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8852, 2007 June 23.
- C/2007 M2 (Catalina). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the Catalina Sky Survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8852, 2007 June 23.
- C/2007 M1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8849, 2007 June 18.
- C/2007 K6 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8841, 2007 May 31.
- C/2007 K5 (Lovejoy). Discovery by Australian amateur Terry Lovejoy. IAUC 8840, 2007 May 29.
- C/2007 K4 (Gibbs). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8839, 2007 May 26.
- C/2007 K3 (Siding Spring). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8839, 2007 May 26.
- P/2007 K2 (Gibbs). Discovery via the Catalina Sky survey. IAUC 8838, 2007 May 25.
- C/2007 K1 (Lemmon). Discovery as apparently asteroidal via the Mt. Lemmon survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8838, 2007 May 25.
- C/2007 JA₂₁ (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8837, 2007 May 13.
- C/2006 WD₄ (Lemmon). Discovery as apparently asteroidal via the Mt. Lemmon survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8835, 2007 May 10.
- P/2007 H3 (Garradd). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8833, 2007 Apr. 25.
- C/2007 H2 (Skiff). Discovery via the LONEOS project. IAUC 8831, 2007 Apr. 20.
- P/2007 H1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8830, 2007 Apr. 20.
- C/2007 G1 (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8828, 2007 Apr. 12.
- 187P/2007 E3 (LINEAR). Recovery of P/1999 J5 at Mount Lemmon. IAUC 8827, 2007 Apr. 7.
- C/2007 F1 (LONEOS). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LONEOS survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8823, 2007 Mar. 21.
- C/2007 E2 (Lovejoy). Amateur CCD discovery by Terry Lovejoy of Australia. IAUC 8819, 2007 Mar. 16.
- C/2007 E1 (Garradd). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8818, 2007 Mar. 14.
- C/2007 D1 (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8808, 2007 Feb. 19.
- P/2007 C2 (Catalina). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8806, 2007 Feb. 12.
- P/2007 C1 (Christensen). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8805, 2007 Feb. 10.
- C/2006 XG₁₆ (Spacewatch). Discovery as apparently asteroidal by the Spacewatch survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8802, 2007 Feb. 3.
- 186P/2007 B3 (Garradd). Discovery via the Siding Spring survey. IAUC 8801, 2007 Jan. 29.
- C/2007 B2 (Skiff). Discovery via the LONEOS survey. IAUC 8799, 2007 Jan. 24.
- P/2007 B1 (Christensen). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8797, 2007 Jan. 20.
- 185P/2007 A3 (Petriew). Recovery of P/2001 Q2 via prediction. IAUC 8795, 2007 Jan. 14.
- P/2007 A2 (Christensen). Discovery via the Mt. Lemmon Sky Survey. IAUC 8794, 2007 Jan. 12.
- 184P/2007 A1 (Lovas). Accidental rediscovery of lost comet D/1986 W1 via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8791, 2007 Jan. 10.
- For comets announced prior to 2007, go to the older Headlines webpage.

Recent magnitude estimates for observable comets (as reported to the CBAT and the International Comet Quarterly).

Minor Planets, Dwarf Planets

2007 VA₈₅ is an apparently asteroidal object (discovered by the LINEAR project) with the shortest known orbital period (7.6 yr) for a sun-orbiting natural object with a retrograde orbit (i = 132.6 deg). IAUC 8894, 2007 Nov. 10.
Names have been assigned to (136199) 2003 UB₃₁₃ and its satellite (IAUC 8747 [PDF]). [added 2006 Sept. 13]
(136199) Eris = 2003 UB₃₁₃. Discovery of a transneptunian object of similar absolute brightness to Pluto (along with two other TNOs that are also relatively bright -- near 17th magnitude). IAUC 8577 and MPEC 2005-O41 (2005 July 29). Naming announced on IAUC 8747 (2006 Sept. 13).
For objects announced prior to 2006, go to the older Headlines webpage.
For recent discoveries/recoveries of Near-Earth Asteroids and other unusual minor planets you are referred to the list of recent MPECs:
For recent discoveries/recoveries of distant minor planets (Centaurs, TNOs, and SDOs) you are referred to the list of recent MPECs:
- Ephemerides and orbital elements for observable distant minor planets.
Ephemerides and orbital elements for critical-list numbered minor planets.

Recently Discovered Natural Satellites and Rings of Major and Minor Planets

Two companions to minor planet (153591) 2001 SN₂₆₃ IAUC 8921, 2008 Feb. 13.
New names of satellites of Saturn (XLIX-LII). IAUC 8873, 2007 Sept. 20.
Binary companion to minor planet (160256) 2002 PD₁₄₉ CBET 1046, 2007 Aug. 31.
Satellite of minor planet 2007 DT₁₀₃ CBET 1020, 2007 Aug. 3.
Satellite of minor planet (702) Alauda. CBET 1016, 2007 Aug. 2.
New satellite of Saturn (S/2007 S 4). IAUC 8857, 2007 July 18.
New satellites of Saturn (S/2007 S 1, S/2007 S 2, S/2007 S 3). IAUC 8836, 2007 May 11.
New names of satellites of Jupiter (XLIX) and Saturn (XXXVI-XLVIII) and of Uranian ring 1986 U 2R. IAUC 8826, 2007 Apr. 5.
Binary companion of minor planet 2006 VV₂. IAUC 8826, 2007 Apr. 5.
Satellite of minor planet (45) Eugenia. IAUC 8817, 2007 Mar. 7.
Satellites of transneptunian minor planets 2004 PB₁₀₈ and (60621) 2000 FE₈. IAUC 8816, 2007 Mar. 3.
Satellite of transneptunian minor planet 2002 GZ₃₁. IAUC 8815, 2007 Feb. 28.
Satellite of transneptunian minor planet (119979) 2002 WC₁₉. IAUC 8814, 2007 Feb. 27.
Satellites of transneptunian minor planets 2003 AZ₈₄, (50000) Quaoar, (55637) 2002 UX₂₅, and (90482) Orcus. IAUC 8812, 2007 Feb. 22.
Satellite of transneptunian minor planet (123509) 2000 WK₁₈₃. IAUC 8811, 2007 Feb. 21.
New names of Neptunian satellites IX-XIII. IAUC 8802, 2007 Feb. 3.
(65489) 2003 FX₁₂₈. Discovery of a binary companion to this distant minor planet; also, new names for distant minor planets (42355), (58534), and their "binary" companions IAUC 8778 (2006 Nov. 23).
R/2006 S 1, R/2006 S 2, R/2006 S 3, R/2006 S 4 (new rings of Saturn). IAUC 8759 (2006 Oct. 11).
1999 RT₂₁₄. Discovery of a binary companion to this transneptunian minor planet IAUC 8756 (2006 Sept. 29).
(120347) 2004 SB₆₀. Discovery of a binary companion to this transneptunian minor planet IAUC 8751 (2006 Sept. 19).
2003 QW₁₁₁. Binary companion to this transneptunian minor planet IAUC 8745 (2006 Sept. 7).
S/2006 (624) 1. Satellite of the Jupiter-Trojan minor planet (624) Hektor. IAUC 8732 (2006 July 21).
Saturn XXXV (Daphnis) = S/2005 S1 (new designation and name). IAUC 8730 (2006 July 17).
Satellites of Saturn (nine newly discovered satellites, S/2004 S 19 and S/2006 S 1-S/2006 S 8) IAUC 8727 (2006 June 30).
Binary companion of the distant minor planet (42355) = 2002 CR₄₆ CBET 401 (2006 Feb. 15).
List of satellites and companions of minor planets that have been announced on CBAT publications.
For objects announced prior to 2006, go to the older Headlines webpage.

Novae and very unusual variable objects

V5579 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2008. IAUC 8937, 2008 Apr. 11.
V2491 Cyg (N Cyg 2008 No. 2). IAUC 8934, 2008 Apr. 11.
NR TrA = Nova TrA 2008. IAUC 8931, 2008 Apr. 4.
V2468 Cyg = Nova Cyg 2008. IAUC 8927, 2008 Mar. 8.
HT Cas in outburst for first time since 2002. CBET 1203, 2008 Jan. 11.
V459 Vul = Nova Vul 2007 No. 2. IAUC 8907, 2008 Jan. 1.
V598 Pup (apparent nova discovered at x-ray wavelengths in Oct., but outburst apparently occurred in June according to prediscovery survey images). IAUC 8898, 2007 Nov. 20.
V597 Pup = Nova Pup 2007. IAUC 8895, 2007 Nov. 14.
Nova in M33. CBET 1074, 2007 Sept. 19.
V455 And = HS 2331+3905. IAUC 8868, 2007 Sept. 12.
V458 Vul = Nova Vul 2007. IAUC 8861, 2007 Aug. 9.
R CrB fading. IAUC 8859, 2007 July 27.
V390 Nor = Nova Nor 2007. IAUC 8850, 2007 June 20.
V5558 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2007. IAUC 8832, 2007 Apr. 20.
GW Lib. First known outburst since 1983 (to visual mag 10) IAUC 8829, 2007 Apr. 13.
V2615 Oph = Nova Oph 2007. IAUC 8824, 2007 Mar. 21.
V2467 Cyg = Nova Cyg 2007. IAUC 8821, 2007 Mar. 19.
V1281 Sco = Nova Sco 2007 No. 2. IAUC 8810, 2007 Feb. 21.
V1280 Sco = Nova Sco 2007 -- at visual mag about 4 in mid-Feb. 2007 (the brightest nova since V1494 Aql in 1999). IAUC 8803, 2007 Feb. 6.
V1065 Cen = Nova Cen 2007. IAUC 8800, 2007 Jan. 26.
Variable star (possible supernova) in/near UGC 4904. CBET 666, 2006 Oct. 11.
VY Aqr. First known outburst in 12 years. CBET 664, 2006 Oct. 10 (also IAUC 8760.
Nova in M32. CBET 591, 2006 July 28.
V2576 Oph = Nova Oph 2006 No. 2. IAUC 8700, 2006 Apr. 10.
V2362 Cyg = Nova Cyg 2006. IAUC 8697, 2006 April 5.
V5117 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2006. IAUC 8673, 2006 Feb. 20.
V2575 Oph = Nova Oph 2006. IAUC 8671, 2006 Feb. 13.
Outburst of RS Oph (first since 1985). IAUC 8671, 2006 Feb. 13.
For objects announced prior to 2006, go to the older Headlines webpage.
The CBAT's working list of novae in the Milky Way can be found here.
A list of (apparent) novae in M31 reported to the CBAT beginning in 2004 can be found here.

Supernovae

A list of recent supernovae is available, as is our on-line form for checking possible supernova candidates. David Bishop maintains a website showing images of recent supernovae.

The best guide for ephemerides for forthcoming periodic comet returns is the annual ICQ Comet Handbook. Predicted elements for returns up to three years into the future are published in the Minor Planet Circulars. Ephemerides for all currently-observable comets may be generated in the CBAT/MPC Computer Service.

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