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IAUC 3934: P/ENCKE; 1982i

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IAUC number 

                                                  Circular No. 3934
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 617-495-7244/7440/7444


PERIODIC COMET ENCKE
     Total visual magnitude estimates: Mar. 12.01 UT, 7.7 (J.
Bortle, Stormville, NY, 0.32-m reflector); 14.10, 8.2 (R. Keen,
Boulder, CO, 0.32-m reflector); 15.01, 7.5 (Bortle); 16.01, 7.4
(Bortle); 20.14, 7.3 (C. S. Morris, Whitaker Peak, CA, 20 x 80
binoculars; tail 70' in p.a. 53); 20.14, 7.3 (D. Machholz, Loma
Prieta, CA, 0.25-m reflector); 23.13, ~ 7 (Morris).

     The comet was at perihelion on Mar. 27.  While it is
interesting to note the visual magnitude estimates, it is proper to
point out that the only astrometric observations reported of this
famous object since its previous perihelion passage are those by
J. Gibson on 1982 July 30 (MPC 7056) and by T. Seki on 1984 Jan.
27 (MPC 8482).  The ephemeris continues as follows:

     1984 ET     R.A. (1950.0) Decl.      p        r       m1

     Apr. 10     0 07.08    - 8 45.1    0.640    0.486     8.3
          20    23 38.34    -14 11.7
          30    23 26.29    -16 19.8    0.793    0.846    11.9
     May  10    23 20.00    -17 29.4
          20    23 14.19    -18 31.8    0.868    1.174    14.0
          30    23 06.11    -19 47.7
     June  9    22 53.90    -21 25.5    0.876    1.462    15.3
          19    22 36.37    -23 23.9
          29    22 13.10    -25 32.1    0.882    1.719    16.3


PERIODIC COMET HALLEY (1982i)
     The following astrometric observation was obtained with the 4-
m reflector and cryogenic camera at Kitt Peak National Observatory
by M. J. S. Belton, H. Spinrad, P. A. Wehinger and S. Wyckoff.  The
magnitude (V) was 23.6 +/- 1.0.

         1984 UT              R.A.   (1950.0)    Decl.

         Mar.  4.2490        5 57 18.12      +11 41 43.4

     J. Lecacheux, O. Le Fevre, J. Baudraud, J. P. Lemonnier and
G. Mathez, Observatoire de Meudon; and G. Lelievre, Canada-France-
Hawaii Telescope, report that their electronographic photometry
during Feb. 2-6 (cf. IAUC 3928) is compatible with a sinusoidal
flux of period near 8h10m, with a maximum on Feb. 4.47 UT and an
amplitude of variation of a factor of 4.9.


1984 April 2                   (3934)              Brian G. Marsden

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