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IAUC 3043: Poss. SN IN NGC 4278; R CrB; P/SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 1; (1980) 1950 LA

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                                                  Circular No. 3043
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     Telex: 921428
Telephone: (617) 864-5758


POSSIBLE SUPERNOVA IN NGC 4278
     W. K. Ford, Jr., and V. C. Rubin, Department of Terrestrial
Magnetism, Carnegie Institute of Washington; and B. Schaefer, Kitt
Peak National Observatory, report that on Feb. 24.2 UT they visually
observed a star of magnitude about 14-15 located 10" due north
of the nucleus of the large, emission-line E1 galaxy NGC 4278.
Available plates are all too well exposed to tell if the object is
a foreground star, and spectroscopic observations made with the
400-cm reflector under poor conditions are inconclusive.  Examination
of the object by other observers is desirable.


R CORONAE BOREALIS
     P. L. Collins, Harvard College Observatory; and J. Bortle,
Brooks Observatory, have independently reported that this star is
fading.  Recent magnitude estimates are: Feb. 17.24 UT, 6.3
(Collins); 23.43, 6.6 (Collins); 25.53, 6.8 (J. Morgan, Prescott,
Arizona); 26.32, 7.0 (Collins); 26.42, 7.1 (Bortle).


PERIODIC COMET SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 1
     The following precise positions were obtained by C. Y. Shao,
R. E. McCrosky and G. Schwartz with the 155-cm reflector at Harvard
College Observatory's Agassiz Station.  Measurers: Shao and J. H.
Bulger.  On 1976 Oct. 24 the comet, observed in fair-good seeing,
was completely stellar in appearance, having m2 ~ 16 (unfiltered
Kodak 127-04 emulsion, H2 sensitized).  On Nov. 22 a very sharp
condensation (m2 ~ 15) was prominent in an asymmetric, basically
crescent-shaped coma; the coma extended over p.a. ~ 120o-360o, although
it was mainly between p.a. 240o and 360o, where its radius was
25"; the density of the coma seemed to be enhanced near p.a. 240o.
An exposure on Dec. 27 showed a weak condensation with some coma.
On 1977 Jan. 14, in excellent seeing but with some cirrus, the
condensation (m2 ~ 15) was surrounded by a small, circular coma.  The
coma was somewhat larger (radius 10-15") on Feb. 17, the surface
brightness less than in November; in fair-good seeing m2 ~ 15.5.

     1976 UT             R. A. (1950) Decl.
     Sept.23.37291     3 26 15.54   +29 26 49.2
     Oct. 24.37352     3 15 58.99   +29 29 29.4
     Nov. 19.20171     3 02 35.45   +28 44 56.7
          20.09912     3 02 07.63   +28 42 46.2
          22.23053     3 01 01.78   +28 37 30.4


(1980) 1950 LA
     The following ephemeris, by B. G. Marsden, is from the orbital
elements in Minor Planet Circ. No. 4010:

     1977/78 ET  R. A. (1950) Decl.     Delta     r     Mag.
     Mar. 18    19 01.20    -20 36.7    1.707   1.700   19.1
          28    19 25.05    -17 44.5
     Apr.  7    19 48.85    -14 13.9    1.430   1.601   18.7
          17    20 12.70    - 9 59.9
          27    20 36.75    - 4 57.7    1.181   1.498   18.2
     May   7    21 01.25    + 0 56.7
          17    21 26.63    + 7 44.2    0.980   1.395   17.7
          27    21 53.42    +15 19.7
     June  6    22 22.46    +23 29.1    0.845   1.296   17.4
          16    22 54.88    +31 49.1
          26    23 32.12    +39 48.2    0.782   1.208   17.2
     July  6     0 15.95    +46 52.5
          16     1 07.76    +52 30.7    0.772   1.138   17.1
          26     2 07.24    +56 16.9
     Aug.  5     3 11.04    +57 56.9    0.783   1.095   17.1
          15     4 13.12    +57 34.6
          25     5 08.04    +55 29.6    0.786   1.087   17.1
     Sept. 4     5 53.64    +52 07.3
          14     6 30.20    +47 50.0    0.769   1.114   17.1
          24     6 58.88    +42 52.6
     Oct.  4     7 20.90    +37 23.5    0.727   1.173   17.0
          14     7 37.00    +31 27.5
          24     7 47.42    +25 06.4    0.669   1.254   16.8
     Nov.  3     7 52.15    +18 22.2
          13     7 50.88    +11 20.7    0.616   1.349   16.6
          23     7 43.34    + 4 16.1
     Dec.  3     7 29.83    - 2 25.7    0.600   1.451   16.4
          13     7 11.54    - 8 09.5
          23     6 50.97    -12 23.2    0.655   1.554   16.6
     Jan.  2     6 31.28    -14 54.3
          12     6 15.09    -15 52.1    0.787   1.655   17.1
          22     6 03.92    -15 39.7
     Feb.  1     5 58.01    -14 42.2    0.982   1.751   17.8
          11     5 56.88    -13 19.5
          21     5 59.85    -11 46.3    1.217   1.842   18.4
     Mar.  3     6 06.12    -10 12.2
          13     6 15.05    - 8 43.1    1.474   1.925   19.0
          23     6 26.09    - 7 22.9
     Apr.  2     6 38.78    - 6 13.9    1.741   2.002   19.4
          12     6 52.79    - 5 17.4
          22     7 07.83    - 4 34.1    2.007   2.070   19.7

     Mag. = 16.0 + 5 log Delta + 5 log r + 0.023 (phase angle)


1977 February 28               (3043)              Brian G. Marsden

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