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

You are strongly advised not to make direct links to pages beneath this page, other than links to `index.html' pages, as they may be temporary or be moved or renamed as circumstances dictate.

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 excluded from this listing.
- C/2006 Q1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8742, 2006 August 29.
- C/2006 P1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8737, 2006 August 8.
- C/2006 HR₃₀ (Siding Spring). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the Siding Spring survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8735, 2006 Aug. 3.
- C/2006 O2 (Garradd). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8734, 2006 Aug. 1.
- P/2006 O1 (Hug-Bell). Recovery of P/1999 X1. IAUC 8730, 2006 July 17.
- C/2006 M4 (SWAN). Discovery via SOHO/SWAN website images, with cometary nature confirmed via ground-based observations. IAUC 8729, 2006 July 12.
- 177P/2006 M3 (Barnard) = P/1889 M1. Re-discovery of a comet not seen since 1889, via the LINEAR survey (reported asteroidal by them, found to be cometary by other observers). IAUC 8726, 2006 June 26.
- C/2006 M2 (Spacewatch). Discovery via the Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8725, 2006 June 22.
- C/2006 M1 (LINEAR). Discovery via the Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8724, 2006 June 22.
- P/2006 L2 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8721, 2006 June 15.
- C/2006 L1 (Garradd). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8719, 2006 June 7.
- C/2006 HW₅₁ (Siding Spring). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the Siding Spring survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8718, 2006 June 5.
- C/2006 K3 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8715, 2006 May 24.
- P/2006 K2 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8714, 2006 May 23.
- C/2006 K1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8712, 2006 May 18.
- P/2006 H1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. CBET 496 (2006 May 1); IAUC 8706, 2006 May 4.
- 176P/1999 RE₇₀ = (118401). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8704, 2006 Apr. 24.
- C/2006 GZ₂ (Spacewatch). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the Spacewatch survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8703, 2006 Apr. 19.
- P/2006 G1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8699, 2006 Apr. 7.
- P/2006 F4 (Spacewatch). Discovery via the Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8695, 2006 Mar. 30.
- C/2006 F2 (Christensen). Discovery via the Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8692, 2006 Mar. 24.
- C/2006 F1 (Kowalski). Discovery via the Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8690, 2006 Mar. 24.
- C/2006 E1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8688, 2006 Mar. 16.
- P/2006 CK₁₀ (Catalina). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the Catalina Sky Survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8682, 2006 Mar. 2.
- C/2006 D1 (Hill). Discovery via the Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8678, 2006 Feb. 24.
- P/2005 SB₂₁₆ (LONEOS). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LONEOS survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8668, 2006 Feb. 8.
- C/2006 B1 (McNaught). Discovery via the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8665, 2006 Jan. 30.
- 175P/2006 A3 (Hergenrother). Recovery of P/2000 C1. IAUC 8664, 2006 Jan. 27.
- C/2006 A2 (Catalina). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the Catalina survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8662, 2006 Jan. 24.
- P/2005 YQ₁₂₇ (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8658, 2006 Jan. 13.
- 174P/2000 EC₉₈ (Echeclus) = (60558) Echeclus. Apparently asteroidal Centaur-type minor planet discovered by the Spacewatch survey that has recently been found to show cometary features. IAUC 8656, 2006 Jan. 6.
- P/2005 XA₅₄ (LONEOS-Hill). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LONEOS survey, and independently discovered as cometary by the Catalina survey. IAUC 8656, 2006 Jan. 6.
- C/2006 A1 (Pojmanski). Discovery in course of All Sky Automated Survey at Las Campanas. IAUC 8653, 2006 Jan. 5.
- C/2005 Y2 (McNaught). Discovery in course of Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8652, 2005 Dec. 31.
- C/2005 X1 (Beshore). Discovery in course of Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8642, 2005 Dec. 9.
- P/2004 YJ₃₅ (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary later elsewhere. IAUC 8637, 2005 Dec. 2.
- C/2005 W3 (Kowalski). Discovery in course of Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8634, 2005 Nov. 27.
- C/2005 W2 (Christensen). Discovery in course of Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8632, 2005 Nov. 22.
- P/2005 V1 (Bernardi). Discovery in course of University of Hawaii Asteroid Search project. IAUC 8627, 2005 Nov. 4.
- P/2005 U1 (Read). Discovery in course of Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8624, 2005 Oct. 28.
- 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Recovery by Carl Hergenrother. IAUC 8623, 2005 Oct. 26.
- P/2000 QJ₄₆ (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary later elsewhere. IAUC 8622, 2005 Oct. 25.
- P/2005 T5 (Broughton). Amateur discovery from CCD images. IAUC 8621, 2005 Oct. 25.
- P/2005 RV₂₅ (LONEOS-Christensen). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LONEOS survey, found to be cometary later elsewhere. IAUC 8620, 2005 Oct. 24.
- C/2005 T4 (SWAN). Discovery of a comet on ultraviolet SWAN/SOHO images, confirmed by ground-based observations. IAUC 8619, 2005 Oct. 24.
- [P/]2005 SD [(LINEAR)]. Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8618, 2005 Oct. 17; but unsure if it is a comet (if so, it must only have occasional activity; cf. IAUC 8620.)
- P/2005 T3 (Read). Discovery in course of Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8614, 2005 Oct. 11.
- P/2005 T2 (Christensen). Discovery in course of Mt. Lemmon Survey program. IAUC 8614, 2005 Oct. 11.
- 173P/2005 T1 (Mueller). Recovery of P/1993 W1. IAUC 8613, 2005 Oct. 8.
- C/2005 S3 (Read). Discovery in course of Spacewatch survey program. IAUC 8608, 2005 Oct. 1.
- C/2005 S2 (Skiff). Discovery in course of LONEOS survey program. IAUC 8606, 2005 Sept. 30.
- C/2005 R4 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8601, 2005 Sept. 16.
- 171P/2005 R3 (Spahr). Recovery of P/1998 W1. IAUC 8599, 2005 Sept. 12.
- P/2004 FY₁₄₀ (LINEAR). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the LINEAR survey, found to be cometary later elsewhere. IAUC 8597, 2005 Sept. 11.
- P/2005 R2 (Van Ness). Discovery in course of LONEOS program. IAUC 8597, 2005 Sept. 11.
- P/2005 R1 (NEAT). Discovery in course of NEAT survey program. IAUC 8595, 2005 Sept. 5.
- P/2005 Q4 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8595, 2005 Sept. 5.
- C/2005 Q1 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8590, 2005 Aug. 29.
- C/2005 P3 (SWAN). Discovery of a comet on ultraviolet SWAN/SOHO images, confirmed by ground-based observations. IAUC 8587, 2005 August 26.
- C/2005 O2 (Christensen). Discovery in course of the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8579, 2005 August 3.
- C/2005 O1 (NEAT). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the NEAT survey. IAUC 8578, 2005 August 1.
- 169P/2002 EX₁₂ (NEAT). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of the NEAT survey. IAUC 8578, 2005 August 1.
- C/2005 N5 (Catalina). Discovery in course of Catalina Survey (reported asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8568, 2005 July 14.
- C/2005 N4 (Catalina). Discovery in course of Catalina Survey (reported asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8568, 2005 July 14.
- P/2005 N3 (Larson). Discovery in course of Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8560, 2005 July 5.
- 168P/2005 N2 (Hergenrother). Recovery of P/1998 W2. IAUC 8560, 2005 July 5.
- C/2005 N1 (Juels-Holvorcem). Amateur discovery. IAUC 8547, 2005 July 3.
- C/2005 JY₁₂₆ (Catalina-NEAT). Discovery as apparently asteroidal in course of Catalina Sky Survey; discovered independently later as a comet by the NEAT survey. IAUC 8554, 2005 June 30.
- 170P/2005 M1 (Christensen). Discovery in course of Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8547, 2005 June 20.
- 167P/2004 PY₄₂ (CINEOS). Discovery in course of the "Campo Imperatore Near Earth Ojects Survey" (reported as asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere. IAUC 8545, 2005 June 17.
- P/2005 L4 (Christensen). Discovery in course of Mt. Lemmon Survey. IAUC 8543, 2005 June 14.
- P/2005 JY₁₂₆ (Catalina). Discovery in course of Catalina Survey. IAUC 8537, 2005 June 7.
- C/2005 L3 (McNaught). Discovery in course of Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8536, 2005 June 7.
- C/2005 L2 (McNaught). Discovery in course of Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8536, 2005 June 7.
- P/2005 L1 (McNaught). Discovery in course of Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8535, 2005 June 7.
- P/2005 K3 (McNaught). Discovery in course of Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8535, 2005 June 7.
- C/2005 K2 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program. IAUC 8533, 2005 May 20.
- C/2005 K1 (Skiff). Discovery in course of LONEOS survey program. IAUC 8532, 2005 May 20.
- P/2005 JQ₅ (Catalina). Discovery in course of Catalina Survey. IAUC 8531, 2005 May 17.
- P/2005 JN (Spacewatch). Discovery in course of Spacewatch survey program (reported asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8528, 2005 May 16.
- C/2005 J2 (Catalina). Discovery in course of Catalina Survey (reported asteroidal by them, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8528, 2005 May 16.
- C/2005 EL₁₇₃ (LONEOS). Discovery in course of LONEOS survey program (reported asteroidal by them, found cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8526, 2005 May 10.
- P/2005 J1 (McNaught). Discovery in course of the Siding Spring Survey. IAUC 8525, 2005 May 8.
- C/2005 H1 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8522, 2005 May 3.
- P/2005 GF₈ (LONEOS). Discovery in course of LONEOS survey program (reported asteroidal by them, found cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8510, 2005 Apr. 13.
- C/2005 G1 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program (reported asteroidal by LINEAR, found to be cometary elsewhere). IAUC 8504, 2005 Apr. 4.
- P/2005 E1 (Tubbiolo). Discovery in course of Spacewatch survey. IAUC 8491, 2005 Mar. 7.
- C/2005 B1 (Christensen). Discovery in course of Catalina Sky Survey. IAUC 8466, 2005 Jan. 17.
- C/2005 A1 (LINEAR). Discovery in course of LINEAR survey program. IAUC 8463, 2005 Jan. 14.
- For comets announced prior to 2005, go to the older Headlines webpage.

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

Minor Planets

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)
2003 VB₁₂. Discovery of the large, distant transneptunian now known as (90377) Sedna. IAUC 8304 and MPEC 2004-E45 (2004 Mar. 15)
2004 DW. Discovery of the large transneptunian object now known as (90482) Orcus. IAUC 8291 and MPEC 2004-D15 (2004 Feb. 20)
1937 UB (Hermes), a long-lost minor planet, has been rediscovered [later given the permanent designation (69230) Hermes]. IAUC 8223 and MPEC 2003-T74 (2003 Oct. 15)
For objects announced prior to 2003, 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

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 centaur minor planet (42355) = 2002 CR₄₆ CBET 401 (2006 Feb. 15).
Rings of Uranus (discovery of R/2003 U 1 and R/2003 U 2) IAUC 8649 (2005 Dec. 29).
Satellites of Uranus (new designations and names) IAUC 8648 (2005 Dec. 29).
S/2005 (EL₆₁) 2: second satellite of the large transneptunian minor planet 2003 EL₆₁ CBET 310 (2005 Nov. 29) and IAUC 8636 (2005 Dec. 1).
Satellite of the minor planet (1862) Apollo IAUC 8627 (2005 Nov. 4).
S/2005 P 1 and S/2005 P 2 (new satellites of Pluto) IAUC 8625 (2005 Oct. 31).
S/2005 (UBUB₃₁₃) 1: satellite of the large transneptunian minor planet 2003 UB₃₁₃ IAUC 8610 (2005 Oct. 4).
S/2004 (87) 1 = (87) Sylvia II = Remus. Second satellite of the minor planet (87) Sylvia; the first, S/2001 (87) 1 = (87) Sylvia I = Romulus, was named at the same time. IAUC 8582 (2005 August 11).
S/2005 (EL₆₁) 1: satellite of the large transneptunian minor planet 2003 EL₆₁ IAUC 8577 (2005 July 29).
Companion to the transneptunian minor planet 2005 EO₃₀₄ IAUC 8526 (2005 May 10).
S/2005 S 1 (new satellite of Saturn) IAUC 8524 (2005 May 6).
New satellites of Saturn IAUC 8523 (2005 May 4).
Satellites of Jupiter (new designations and names) IAUC 8502 (2005 Mar. 30).
Satellites of Saturn (new designations and names; corrigenda) IAUC 8471 (2005 Jan. 21).
S/2004 S 5 and S/2004 S 6 (newly discovered satellites of Saturn); R/2004 S 2 (newly discovered narrow ring of Saturn). IAUC 8432 (2004 Nov. 8).
S/2004 S 3 and S/2004 S 4 (newly discovered satellites of Saturn); R/2004 S 1 (newly discovered narrow ring of Saturn). IAUC 8401 (2004 Sept. 9).
S/2004 S 1 and S/2004 S 2 (newly discovered satellites of Saturn) IAUC 8389 (2004 Aug. 16).
S/2004 (17246) 1 = newly discovered satellite of minor planet (17246) 2000 GL₇₄. IAUC 8293 (2004 Feb. 24).
Binary companion of the TNO 2000 CQ₁₁₄. IAUC 8289 (2004 Feb. 16).
S/2003 J 23 (newly discovered satellite of Jupiter). IAUC 8281 (2004 Feb. 4).
S/2003 J 22 (newly discovered satellite of Jupiter). IAUC 8276 (2004 Jan. 25).
For objects announced prior to 2004, go to the older Headlines webpage.

Novae and very unusual variable objects

Nova in M32. CBET 591, 2006 July 28.
V2576 Oph = N Oph 2006 No. 2. IAUC 8700, 2006 Apr. 10.
V2362 Cyg = Nova Cyg 2006. IAUC 8697, 2006 April 5.
V5117 Sgr = N Sgr 2006. IAUC 8673, 2006 Feb. 20.
V2575 Oph = N Oph 2006. IAUC 8671, 2006 Feb. 13.
Outburst of RS Oph (first since 1985). IAUC 8671, 2006 Feb. 13.
Nova in the LMC 2005. IAUC 8635, 2005 Nov. 28.
V477 Sct = N Sct 2005 No. 2. IAUC 8617, 2005 Oct. 16.
V476 Sct = N Sct 2005. IAUC 8607, 2005 Oct. 1.
V1047 Cen = Nova Cen 2005. IAUC 8596, 2005 Sept. 8.
Nova in the SMC 2005. IAUC 8582, 2005 Aug. 11.
V1188 Sco = Nova Sco 2005. IAUC 8574, 2005 July 26.
V5116 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2005 No. 2. IAUC 8559, 2005 July 5.
V1663 Aql = N Aql 2005. IAUC 8540, 2005 June 10.
Variable star in Norma. IAUC 8539, 2005 June 9.
Variable object in Bootes. IAUC 8518, 2005 Apr. 21.
V378 Ser = Nova Ser 2005. IAUC 8505, 2005 Apr. 4.
V5115 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2005 (No. 1). IAUC 8500, 2005 Mar. 29.
V382 Nor = Nova Nor 2005. IAUC 8497, 2005 Mar. 22.
Cataclysmic variable in Pyx. IAUC 8496, 2005 Mar. 22.
V2361 Cyg = Nova Cyg 2005. IAUC 8483, 2005 Feb. 11.
Transient in Lynx. IAUC 8452, 2004 Dec. 12.
V574 Pup = Nova Pup 2004. IAUC 8443, 2004 Nov. 21.
Nova in the Large Magellanic Cloud 2004. IAUC 8422, 2004 Oct. 22.
V1187 Sco = Nova Sco 2004 No. 2. IAUC 8380, 2004 August 5.
V1186 Sco = Nova Sco 2004. IAUC 8369, 2004 July 6.
Unusual cataclysmic variable in Her. IAUC 8363, 2004 June 30.
V2574 Oph. IAUC 8323, 2004 Apr. 15.
V5114 Sgr = Nova Sgr 2004. IAUC 8306, 2004 Mar. 17.
V1647 Ori = IRAS 05436-0007 (eruptive early-type star with new reflection nebula). IAUC 8284, 2004 Feb. 9.
For objects announced prior to 2004, go to the older Headlines webpage.
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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