THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 165 1988 Jun 05 17.57UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16, Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:(0256)471074.Int:+44256471074 Telex:265871(MONREF G) Quote"72:MAG60138 ATT G.HURST"in FIRST line. ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET SHOEMAKER-HOLT (1988g) Improved elements from IAU computer: T =1988 Feb 14.11823 ET Peri= 326.95877) Node= 288.36141) 1950.0 Incl= 63.00617) q = 1.1848585 AU Ephemeris: 1988 ET RA(1950) DEC Earth Sun Elong m1 June 3 22h20.04m +37 07.9' 1.912 2.019 81.3 11.4 8 22 18.55 +40 04.7 1.928 2.074 83.8 11.5 13 22 16.05 +42 53.7 1.946 2.129 86.2 11.7 18 22 12.42 +45 33.7 1.967 2.185 88.4 11.8 23 22 07.60 +48 03.4 1.991 2.241 90.6 12.0 28 22 01.52 +50 21.7 2.018 2.297 92.6 12.1 July 3 21 54.16 +52 27.5 2.048 2.352 94.5 12.2 Observations of this comet are urgently required especially astrometry to assist with further orbital elements to test the possible link with 1988e (cf E-158). V635 CAS The outburst of the optical component of the X-ray pulsar 4U 0115+63 was mentioned on E-128 and 133. Until now photos by D.McAdam could not be identified with the charts published in professional journals. This has now been achieved thanks to the Lick Atlas from which it is apparent that the chart in ApJ 223 L71 is only about 3' wide with the brightest star about mag 13! 'B' and 'C' charts are now available but further photographs are needed at prime focus to improve these. To establish a sequence, please also obtain an equivalent exposure of UV Per: RA 02h06m45s DEC +56 57.3'(1950) Please send negatives and prints for both fields to 1mm=10" if possible. V635 Cas was not recorded and fainter than mag 13 on the McAdam exposures of 1988 Mar 21. It is not on Stellarum or Papadopoulos but there may be a hint of an image at the extreme limit of Lick (1954 Sept 23) near mag 15. On Stellarum there is a mag 9 image at: RA 1h15.2m DEC +63 27'(1950) about 2' south of V635 Cas which is presumed to be a flaw! Guy M Hurst