Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3796: 1983d
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Read IAUC 3797
Circular No. 3796
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 IRAS-ARAKI-ALCOCK (1983d)
A fast-moving object, originally thought to be asteroidal,
was reported by John Davies, Leicester University, England, in
the course of the minor-planet survey with the Infrared Astronomy
Satellite (IRAS). He reported this discovery to several observers
(but not to the Central Bureau) on Apr. 26. According to an
unclear recorded message from H. Rickman, Uppsala, the object was
confirmed on Apr. 27 by T. Oja, Kvistaberg, Sweden, and said to be
a comet, but no positional information was provided. Lacking further
data, J. Gibson took plates for the IRAS object at Palomar on
May 2.5. Before he could inspect these plates, the Central Bureau
received word via G. Keitch that George E. D. Alcock, Peterborough,
England, had discovered a possible bright comet on May 3.9,
and within an hour confirmation of the discovery was received from
G. M. Hurst, Wellingborough, England. Suspecting that the two
comets were identical, but still lacking any quantitative data on
the IRAS object, the Bureau obtained the IRAS information from
Gibson, at which time he noted the comet. On May 4.1 the Bureau
telegraphed the Alcock discovery and the indicated motion based on
the IRAS observations. Immediately afterward, Y. Kozai, Tokyo
Observatory, telexed news of the May 3.6 independent discovery by
Genichi Araki, Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan. In response to an urgent
request, Davies then provided the IRAS and Swedish observations.
Visual observations on May 4 have been made by D. W. E. Green,
A. C. Porter and others. Green notes that the comet is extremely
large, of diameter 18' (20 x 80 binoculars). Positions follow:
1983 UT R.A. (1950.0) Decl. m1 Observer
Apr. 25.85478 19 06.29 +48 38.6 Davies
25.92649 19 06.15 +48 39.4 "
27.88773 19 04 56.35 +49 17 03.8 Oja
27.90643 19 04 55.53 +49 17 30.1 "
27.93551 19 04 53.94 +49 18 10.5 "
May 2.46120 18 58 27.59 +51 42 09.4 Gibson
2.49106 18 58 22.79 +51 43 35.3 "
3.61111 18 56 +52 30 7 Araki
3.916 18 54.8 +53 02 Alcock
3.95486 18 54.1 +52 58 6.5 Hurst
4.23 18 52.9 +53 24 6.0 Green
4.306 18 52.8 +53 28 Porter
1983 May 4 (3796) Brian G. Marsden
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