THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 485 1991 Feb 16 13.09UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone: (0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 Telex: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G Microlink: MAG60138 JANET:GMH @ UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK GUYH@UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 PRESTEL 256471074 ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY (1991f) C. S. Shoemaker, E. M. Shoemaker, and D. H. Levy report their discovery on Palomar 0.46-m Schmidt films of yet another comet, as given below. The object is diffuse with a faint tail in pa 280deg 1991 UT R.A. (1950) Decl. m1 Feb. 9.455 12 09.5 + 2 31 17 11.272 12 08.8 + 2 43 IAUC 5185 Preliminary parabolic orbital elements from the above observations: T = 1990 Oct. 8.420 ET Peri. = 312.435 Node = 146.434 1950.0 q = 1.61325 AU Incl. = 6.594 1991 ET R.A. (1950) Decl. Delta r m1 Feb. 13 12 08.22 + 2 53.9 1.457 2.318 16.5 18 12 06.16 + 3 28.6 23 12 03.58 + 4 05.4 1.480 2.407 16.7 28 12 00.60 + 4 43.1 IAUC 5187 COMET McNAUGHT-RUSSELL (1991g) Robert H. McNaught, University of Adelaide, reports his discovery of a comet on a U.K. Schmidt Telescope plate taken by Kenneth S. Russell. The object is moderately condensed with a 1' tail in p.a. 185 deg. 1991 UT R.A. (1950) Decl. m1 Feb. 12.66106 11 09 35.31 -22 53 42.8 16.5 12.70273 11 09 33.08 -22 53 15.7 13.62034 11 08 41.87 -22 43 05.1 IAUC 5187 SUPERNOVA 1991E IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY R. H. McNaught, University of Adelaide, reports his discovery on a U.K. Schmidt Telescope plate taken Feb. 7.47 UT by M. Hartley of an apparent supernova of magnitude R about 19 in an anonymous galaxy. The position of the supernova is R.A. = 6h34m14s.89, Decl. -65 30'39".1 (equinox 1950.0), or 6".3 east and 5".0 north of the galaxy's centre. IAUC 5185 PERIODIC COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY 3 (1991e) (cf E484) Preliminary orbital elements by B. G. Marsden, Center for Astrophysics, from 11 observations Feb. 7-11: T = 1991 Feb. 26.886 ET Peri. = 199.128 e = 0.23326 Node = 303.295 1950.0 q = 2.87363 AU Incl. = 5.155 a = 3.74787 AU n = 0.135840 P = 7.26 years 1991 ET R.A. (1950) Decl. Delta r m1 Feb 13 9 15.81 +13 38.2 1.891 2.874 17.0 18 9 12.06 +13 46.7 23 9 08.55 +13 54.6 1.917 2.874 17.0 28 9 05.38 +14 01.5 Mar. 5 9 02.63 +14 07.1 1.969 2.874 17.1 10 9 00.38 +14 11.1 15 8 58.67 +14 13.5 2.044 2.875 17.1 IAUC 5184 Guy M Hurst