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IAUC 5937: GRB 940217; 1993e

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                                                  Circular No. 5937
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@CFA or GREEN@CFA (.SPAN, .BITNET or .HARVARD.EDU)


GRB 940217
     R. M. Kippen, J. Macri and J. Ryan, University of New Hampshire; G. J.
Fishman and C. Meegan, Space Sciences Laboratory, NASA/Marshall
Space Flight Center; B. McNamara, New Mexico State University; V.
Schoenfelder, Max-Planck Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik; W.
Hermsen, SRON Laboratory for Space Research, Leiden; and K.
Bennett, Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department, ESTEC, European
Space Agency, report: "As part of the BATSE/COMPTEL/NMSU Rapid Burst Response
Campaign, COMPTEL has imaged a strong cosmic gamma-ray burst that was
first detected by the BATSE experiment on Feb. 17.96021 UT.  This event
is one of the strongest bursts yet observed by BATSE and COMPTEL, with
several hundred COMPTEL telescope events.  Significant emission > 0.72
MeV was measured for > 150 s.  Within this interval an intense,
multipeaked structure is observed.  The preliminary COMPTEL imaging
analysis yields a roughly circular uncertainty region centered at
R.A. = 1h59m.8, Decl. = +3d23' (equinox 2000.0; 3-sigma-confidence
radius 1.2 deg).  Four hours after the burst the COMPTEL location was
distributed to a world-wide network of multiwavelength observatories to
search for fading counterparts.  We encourage further follow-up
observations as quickly as possible.  Interested parties should contact
B. McNamara at New Mexico State University (e-mail bmcnamar@nmsu.edu,
telephone 505-646-2614)."


PERIODIC COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY 9 (1993e)
     Measurements by R. H. McNaught from an image obtained by G. Da
Costa, F. Freeman, C. Heisler and T. Hill with the Anglo-Australian
Telescope on Feb. 14 confirm all 21 nuclei in the Hubble Space Telescope
images of Jan. 24-27 (IAUC 5936) and permit now the determination of an
orbit for nucleus 3.  This is given with new orbits for nuclei 2 and 4
on MPEC 1994-D07.  The Jupiter-collision time for nucleus 3 is July 21.9
UT.  The latest orbits (from MPC 23105-23107, MPEC 1994-D02 and D07)
for 19 nuclei, together with daily ephemerides Feb. 17-July 17 (to
July 16 for nucleus 21), are given in the Computer Service, option "X".

     J. J. Eitter, P. N. Appleton and R. J. Lavery, Iowa State University,
report that the comet has faded to a low average surface
brightness of 24.2 mag arcsec-2.  R-band CCD observations made at the
Fick Observatory on Feb. 11.5 UT in conditions of good seeing show
the six brightest nuclei to have faded to a surface brightness of
23.6-24.5 mag arcsec-2.  The comet's integrated R-band magnitude was 15.4.


1994 February 21               (5937)              Brian G. Marsden

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