Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3177: 1978c; 1978b
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Read IAUC 3178
Circular No. 3177
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
COMET BRADFIELD (1978c)
The following additional precise positions have been obtained
by J. Johnson, M. P. Candy and A. Verveer at the Perth Observatory:
1978 UT R. A. (1950) Decl.
Feb. 10.86285 19 02 04.65 -45 37 42.4
12.86771 19 15 08.63 -43 53 48.5
13.85382 19 21 29.16 -42 58 58.9
The time of the fourth observation (IAUC 3172) should read 7.86181.
Candy also provides the following improved parabolic elements,
which satisfy the eight Perth observations within 2":
T = 1978 Mar. 17.6810 ET Peri. = 48.9126
Node = 259.7242 1950.0
q = 0.435239 AU Incl. = 51.1356
1978 ET R. A. (1950) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1
Feb. 21 20 05.68 -35 07.9 1.211 0.746 38.0 5.6
26 20 35.00 -28 22.8
Mar. 3 21 03.64 -20 42.4 1.161 0.573 29.6 4.4
8 21 32.60 -12 21.9
13 22 03.07 - 3 48.3 1.191 0.452 21.5 3.4
18 22 35.99 + 4 19.3
23 23 11.13 +11 20.7 1.299 0.457 17.3 3.7
28 23 47.05 +16 54.6
Apr. 2 0 22.07 +21 03.3 1.457 0.583 17.2 5.0
7 0 55.06 +24 01.1
12 1 25.46 +26 04.2 1.647 0.757 17.8 6.4
17 1 53.15 +27 26.9
22 2 18.22 +28 20.2 1.853 0.941 17.3 7.6
m1 = 6.5 + 5 log Delta + 10 log r
PERIODIC COMET WILD 2 (1978b)
Further precise positions have been reported as follows:
1978 UT R. A. (1950) Decl. m1 Observer
Feb. 1.43316 5 16 28.55 +20 08 24.6 13 Kojima
1.44792 5 16 28.30 +20 08 26.3 "
2.93646 5 16 09.84 +20 12 09.0 12 Clough
3.52517 5 16 04.16 +20 13 39.6 12 Natori
5.58750 5 15 50.99 +20 19 00.9 12 "
5.59167 5 15 50.96 +20 19 03.1 "
6.66181 5 15 48.70 +20 21 51.6 13 Seki
6.66736 5 15 48.65 +20 21 52.7 "
7.58681 5 15 49.19 +20 24 27.1 12.5 Natori
12.75833 5 16 33.38 +20 39 14.7 Wild
12.77847 5 16 33.86 +20 39 19.5 "
13.49838 5 16 45.33 +20 41 31.3 12.5 Urata
13.53208 5 16 45.77 +20 41 35.8 "
N. Kojima (Ishiki). From Orient. Astron. Assoc. Comet Bull. No.161.
H. Clough and R. H. McNaught (Macnairston Observatory). Measurer:
P. Birtwhistle. Suggestion of 60" tail in p.a. 60o. Long. =
+4o33'.2, Lat. = +55o26'.5. Communicated by G. M. Hurst.
A. Natori and T. Urata (JCPM Yakiimo Station). 31-cm reflector.
Measurer: Urata. From Nihondaira Obs. Circ. No. 946.
T. Seki (Geisei). From Orient. Astron. Assoc. Comet Bull. No. 162.
P. Wild (Astronomical Institute, Berne University).
The following improved elliptical elements, by B. G. Marsden,
satisfy the 29 observations Jan. 6 to Feb. 13 within 2":
T = 1978 June 15.8580 ET
Peri. = 39.8757 e = 0.556823
Node = 136.1115 1950.0 a = 3.364398 AU
Incl. = 3.2753 n = 0.1597140
q = 1.491025 AU P = 6.171 years
1978 ET R. A. (1950) Decl. Delta r m1
Mar. 13 5 40.19 +22 10.4 1.410 1.778 11.2
23 5 55.68 +22 38.4
Apr. 2 6 14.30 +22 58.5 1.499 1.679 11.1
12 6 35.72 +23 06.9
22 6 59.57 +23 00.0 1.578 1.596 11.0
May 2 7 25.44 +22 34.6
12 7 52.97 +21 48.3 1.647 1.535 10.9
22 8 21.74 +20 39.3
June 1 8 51.33 +19 07.2 1.717 1.499 10.9
11 9 21.39 +17 12.6
21 9 51.59 +14 57.5 1.797 1.492 11.0
July 1 10 21.64 +12 25.0
11 10 51.37 + 9 38.9 1.899 1.514 11.2
21 11 20.65 + 6 43.5
31 11 49.39 + 3 43.5 2.028 l.564 11.5
m1 = 8.0 + 5 log Delta + 10 log r
Total visual magnitude estimates by J. Bortle, Brooks Observatory
(32-cm reflector): Feb. 4.01 UT, 11.4 (coma diameter 1'.3, highly
condensed at center); 5.00, 11.5; 9.02, 11.5; 10.02, 11.3.
1978 February 24 (3177) Brian G. Marsden
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