Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3762: 1983a; Prob. N IN M31; SU Tau
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Read IAUC 3763
Circular No. 3762
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-864-5758
COMET 1983a
The above designation was given to observations, on Jan. 5
and 7, of a comet reported by J. Johnston and M. P. Candy, Perth
Observatory, during a search for P/Metcalf (1906 VI), for which
predicted elements (with T = 1983 Mar. 29) appear on Nakano Note
No. 398. The object was described as diffuse and condensed, with
a short tail. The observations were sent to telegram subscribers,
and in response T. Urata and S. Nakano suggested that they did in
fact refer to P/Metcalf and that (after allowance for differential
perturbations) T = 1983 Feb. 8. However, the object could not be
found at Perth on Jan. 8 and 10 (although another possible image
was recorded on Jan. 9), and R. E. McCrosky failed to find it at
Oak Ridge Observatory on Jan. 9.0 UT. Furthermore, computations
by C. M. Bardwell and the undersigned indicate that, if P/Metcalf
has indeed made ten revolutions since 1906 (and assuming that
nongravitational effects are not very large) a current perihelion
time before mid-March is not possible. Candy concludes that the
observations refer to plate defects, but - for the record - his
accurate measurements are given below: they are not consistent
with any reasonable orbit.
1983 UT R.A. (1950.0) Decl. m1
Jan. 5.52917 22 54 47.00 - 7 35 36.7 15
7.53212 23 00 00.06 - 7 18 31.7
9.53403 23 05 03.75 - 7 06 51.1
PROBABLE NOVA IN M31
J. Bryan and M. Brewster, Austin, Texas, report the probable
discovery on Jan. 8.167 UT of another nova in M31. The object, of
mag 15.1, is located at R.A. = 0h39m26s, Decl. = +40deg52'17"
(equinox 1950.0), and the three plates taken over an interval of 90
min show possible evidence of fading.
SU TAURI
Further visual magnitude estimates: 1982 Oct. 23.98 UT, 11.7
(P. Moore, Selsey, Sussex, England); 28.02, 12.3 (Moore);
Nov. 1.89, 13.2 (M. Verdenet, Bourbon-Lancy, France); 9.92, 15.4
(Verdenet); 11.94, 15.5 (Verdenet).
1983 January 11 (3762) Brian G. Marsden
Read IAUC 3763
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