Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 5351: 1991x; N Sgr 1991
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Circular No. 5351
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Telephone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only)
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM EASYLINK 62794505
MARSDEN or GREEN@CFA.BITNET MARSDEN or GREEN@CFAPS2.SPAN
PERIODIC COMET SPACEWATCH (1991x)
J. V. Scotti, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, provides the
following additional observations, obtained with the 0.91-m Spacewatch
telescope at Kitt Peak:
1991 UT R.A. (1950) Decl. m2
Sept.15.29476 23 08 26.48 - 9 44 34.9 21.0
15.30542 23 08 25.91 - 9 44 39.1
15.31605 23 08 25.35 - 9 44 44.9
15.33130 23 08 24.58 - 9 44 51.7
17.32016 23 06 47.54 -10 00 29.3
17.33057 23 06 46.91 -10 00 35.8
Computations from the 21 observations Sept. 8-17 now make it
clear that the comet is of short period:
T = 1990 Dec. 23.115 ET Peri. = 89.124
e = 0.48122 Node = 152.240 1950.0
q = 1.58060 AU Incl. = 9.523
a = 3.04677 AU n = 0.185329 P = 5.32 years
NOVA SAGITTARII 1991
R. H. McNaught, Anglo-Australian Observatory, reports the
following position from an I plate taken with the U.K. Schmidt
Telescope by P. McKenzie on Aug. 16: R.A. = 18h10m58s.14, Decl. =
-32d13'23".3 (equinox 1950.0, uncertainty 0".5 in R.A. and 0".2 in
Decl.). A position from a film taken by McNaught with the Uppsala
Southern Schmidt on Sept. 4 gives end figures 58s.24, 23".0 (images
slightly trailed in R.A., formal uncertainty 0".4 in each coordinate).
The position, which is consistent also with the Mt. John report on
IAUC 5315, represents an empty field on the SERC J, R and I, ESO B and
R and first Palomar surveys, and this is confirmed by direct visual
comparison of the Aug. 16 plate with the surveys. The nearest stars
on the SERC J survey have positional end figures (based on measures of
plate overlaps) and magnitudes 58s.24, 21".4, 21; 58s.24, 19".1, 17;
and 58s.54, 22".5, 17. A nearby star of mag about 14 has end figures
52s.69, 11".7 (mean of two old survey and two recent postnova plates,
agreeing to within 0".3 in each coordinate). An additional U.K.
Schmidt plate by A. Savage on July 1.5 UT shows no image in the
position of the nova to a limit of I = 18.
1991 September 18 (5351) Brian G. Marsden
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