Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 2246: 1970f; 1969b
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Read IAUC 2247
Circular No. 2246
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Cable Address: SATELLITES, NEWYORK
Western Union: RAPID SATELLITE CAMBMASS
COMET WHITE-ORTIZ-BOLELLI (1970f)
A cable received on May 21 from Dr. Harley Wood, Sydney
Observatory, reported the unconfirmed discovery by White of a bright
comet to the southeast of the sun, in the positions given below.
A few hours later a cable from Tananarive, Malagasy Republic, reported
the discovery by Ortiz of a first magnitude comet in Taurus
at approximately "SA285 DISN [sic]". The Central Bureau relayed
requests for further confirmation to Argentina, South Africa, and
Australia and New Zealand. Since White's positions indicated rapid
eastward motion, attempts were made to confirm the comet also from
Florida (by K. Sininons and R. Sweetsir) and from Arizona (by E.
Roemer and others) on May 22.1; these attempts were unsuccessful.
No further information concerning the comet was received for more
than two days. Then Mrs. Betty Mintz, U.S. Naval Observatory, relayed
a report from V. M. Blanco, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory,
that a bright comet had been discovered there by Carlos
Bolelli on May 21.95 UT; the head was then below the horizon.
Approximate positions, showing that the comet was much further west
than extrapolation from the initial positions had suggested, had
been obtained at Cerro Tololo on the following two evenings. At
about the same time a cable received from Newell, Astronomical
Society of Queensland, reported: "Comet White casually observed
here since Tuesday [May 19]"
Several additional independent discoveries have been reported,
although the first of these was made 48 hours after Bolelli's. Dr.
C. A. Anguita, National Observatory, Santiago, reported that the
comet was discovered by H. Potter at Cerro El Roble on May 23.95.
Dr. B. E. Westerlund, European Southern Observatory, La Silla,
reported that the comet was photographed there by Maitzen, Moffat and
Schuster on May 23.97. The comet was also discovered by G. N.
Sprott at the Smithsonian observing station at Woomera, South
Australia, on May 24.38, and by Kellie at Port Hedland, Western
Australia, on May 24.45.
Positions and descriptions so far available follow:
1970 UT R. A. (1950) Decl. Mag. Observer
May 18.31 4 25 +16 White
20.33 5 00 +16 2 "
21.625 4.7 +14 1 Ortiz
22.968 5 05.4 +13 29 1 Bolelli
23.945 5 13.0 +12 50 3 Pereyra
23.957 5 11.6 +13 01 1 Bolelli
23.969 5 11.5 +13 02 Maitzen
23.970 4 58 + 8.6 4 Potter
24.382 5 14.0 +12 14 S.A.O. Woomera
24.450 5 20.0 +12 00 4 Harris
25.381 5 19.5 +12 26 S.A.O. Woomera
25.444 5 22.0 +13 30 4 Candy
G. White (Wollongong University, New South Wales). Without
condensation, tail > 1o on May 20.
Ortiz (400 km east of Tananarive). Position derived assuming comet
on horizon at azimuth 285o.
C. Bolelli and V. M. Blanco (Interamerican Observatory, Cerro
Tololo). Scaled from Curtis-Schmidt plates. Tail 10o.
Z. M. Pereyra (Cordoba Observatory). Visual position. Comet with
condensation, tail 10o.
Maitzen, Moffat and Schuster (European Southern Observatory).
Small stellar nucleus. Head magnitude 4-5. 15o tail in p.a.
110o.
H. Potter (National Observatory, Santiago). Tail > 1o.
S.A.O. Woomera. May 24: photographed as stellar head (magnitude 4)
with two tails, the southern one bright and straight, the northern
one much fainter and curving to the north; visually the tail
length was 12o. May 25: head magnitude 5, tail length 15o.
B. J. Harris and M. P. Candy (Perth Observatory). May 24: tail
1o. May 25: diffuse with condensation.
COMET KOHOUTEK (1969b)
Dr. A. Mrkos, Klet Observatory, communicates the following
precise positions:
1970 UT R. A. (1950) Decl.
Mar. 29.82028 2 54 04.82 +67 16 32.0
30.78936 3 03 26.02 +66 53 23.1
31.79786 3 12 49.53 +66 27 38.4
Apr. 1.79271 3 21 44.28 +66 00 45.7
3.83532 3 38 57.35 +65 01 34.7
5.81606 3 54 19.89 +63 59 57.3
8.87437 4 15 40.69 +62 18 35.6
May 4.85214 6 04 19.52 +47 09 21.6
6.86521 6 09 39.96 +46 04 31.6
9.86740 6 17 10.74 +44 30 12.0
1970 May 26 (2246) Brian G. Marsden
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