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IAUC 3832: 1983e; REPORTED N IN Cep

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                                                  Circular No. 3832
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 SUGANO-SAIGUSA-FUJIKAWA (1983e)
     S. Wyckoff and P. A. Wehinger, Arizona State University,
write: "Reticon spectra (range 300-700 nm) were obtained on June
13.4 UT (p = 0.063 AU, r = 1.07 AU) using the Steward Observatory's
2.3-m telescope.  The spectral resolution was ~ 0.5 nm and
the spatial resolution ~ 160 km at the comet.  Molecular emission
features definitely identified from a preliminary reduction of the
off-nucleus spectra were: OH, NH, CN, C2 and C3.  The [O I] 630-
and 636-nm lines were also strongly present.  The major difference
between these spectra and the off-nucleus spectrum of P/Tempel 1
(June 13.3 UT, p = 0.8 AU, r = 1.5 AU) was the OH (308 nm)/CN (388
nm) band-strength ratio.  These flux ratios were 4-5 times greater
in comet 1983e than in P/Tempel 1 for all aperture positions."

     Z. Ceplecha, Ondrejov Observatory, telexes that radar
observations by M. Simek showed increased meteor activity for ~ 1.5 hr
centered on June 14.46 UT.  The antenna was beamed in the expected
direction (IAUC 3826), predicted also by V. Vanysek and L. Kresak.

     D. Campbell, A. Forni, J. Harmon, A. Hine, B. Marsden, G.
Pettengill and I. Shapiro, Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard-Smithsonian Center
for Astrophysics, report that radar echoes were received from this
comet at Arecibo on June 11.4 and 12.4 UT.  The signals were
relatively substantially weaker than those from comet 1983d (cf. IAUC
3811), indicating a much smaller nucleus.  The experiment could
not have succeeded were it not for the intensive astrometric
coverage provided by J. Gibson, E. Everhart and R. E. McCrosky, and
in the critical final stage by A. C. Gilmore and P. M. Kilmartin.

     One more astrometric observation has been reported, from J.
Gibson using the 1.2-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar:

          1983 UT            R.A.    (1950.0)    Decl.

          June 17.26780     15 30 27.26     -38 10 22.5


REPORTED NOVA IN CEPHEUS
     With reference to IAUC 3821, Y. Kozai informs us that the
June 1 object appeared on two simultaneous films but was not
evident on exposures shortly earlier.  J. Mattei, AAVSO, notes that
the 'confirmation' by J. Morgan in fact refers to a known star.


1983 June 24                   (3832)              Brian G. Marsden

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