The discovery of a new comet, C/2009 F5 (McNaught), was announced by Rob H. McNaught (Siding Spring Survey) on the 20th March, 2009. With its discovery, Rob McNaught now has a total of 48 comet discoveries accredited to him. The preliminary orbital elements of the comet indicate a perihelion passage on the 9th November 2008, at a distance of 2.3 UA from the Sun.