THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 488 1991 Feb 23 15.40UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PERIODIC COMET TAKAMIZAWA (1991h) J. V. Scotti, University of Arizona, reports his recovery of this comet with the Spacewatch telescope at Kitt Peak. There is a tail about 30" long in p.a. 285-290 deg. The following observations indicate a correction of Delta(T) = -0.5 day to the prediction on MPC 13045: 1991 UT R.A. (1950) Decl. m1 Feb. 17.48591 14 07 23.86 - 0 33 03.8 17.50666 14 07 24.79 - 0 33 01.5 19.9 17.52752 14 07 25.76 - 0 32 57.4 19.6 19.45043 14 08 54.13 - 0 27 22.5 19.6 Orbital elements by B. G. Marsden, Center for Astrophysics, from 117 observations 1984-1991, mean residual 1".2: Epoch = 1991 Aug. 12.0 ET T = 1991 Aug. 17.88914 ET Peri. = 147.64304 e = 0.5746123 Node = 124.25069 1950.0 q = 1.5896944 AU Incl. = 9.48335 a = 3.7370488 AU n = 0.13643033 P = 7.224 years IAUC 5192 The following ephemeris is derived from a programme by N.James and the associated magnitude formula is from NK 506 by S.Nakano: m = 11.5 + 5.0 log R + 15.0 log r Date R.A. (1950) Dec. R r Elong Mag. Motion h m o ' (AU) (AU) o "/hr P.A. 1991 Feb 13.00 14 3.72 -0 43.6 1.809 2.383 113.7 18.4 32 81 23.00 14 11.44 -0 15.3 1.643 2.321 121.7 18.1 27 70 1991 Mar 5.00 14 17.26 +0 30.5 1.490 2.260 130.1 17.7 22 53 15.00 14 20.82 +1 33.9 1.351 2.199 138.7 17.3 20 26 25.00 14 21.78 +2 52.6 1.230 2.138 147.3 16.9 21 356 1991 Apr 4.00 14 20.03 +4 21.4 1.129 2.079 155.2 16.5 26 333 14.00 14 15.73 +5 52.0 1.048 2.022 160.5 16.2 30 317 24.00 14 9.48 +7 12.5 0.990 1.966 160.3 15.9 31 305 1991 May 4.00 14 2.39 +8 10.0 0.952 1.912 154.5 15.6 28 292 14.00 13 55.80 +8 34.1 0.934 1.861 146.2 15.4 22 273 24.00 13 51.10 +8 18.6 0.932 1.812 137.4 15.2 15 235 1991 June 3.00 13 49.35 +7 23.3 0.944 1.767 129.0 15.1 19 181 13.00 13 51.12 +5 51.7 0.965 1.726 121.2 15.0 30 153 23.00 13 56.64 +3 49.1 0.994 1.690 114.3 14.9 44 141 1991 July 3.00 14 5.80 +1 22.3 1.029 1.658 108.3 14.9 57 134 13.00 14 18.34 -1 22.7 1.069 1.632 103.0 14.8 68 129 23.00 14 34.03 -4 19.9 1.113 1.612 98.3 14.8 78 125 RX ANDROMEDAE (cf E443) Numerous observers have reported the end of the standstill of this variable. The following representative results are by O.Midtskogen, Norway (e-mailed by B.Granslo): Jan 8.92UT, 11.4; 10.88, 11.3; 15.81, 11.3; 16.76, 11.5, 17.89, 11.3; 20.92, 11.3; 21.76, 11.3; 23.77, 11.4; 26.72, 11.3; 28.74, 11.3; Feb 7.33, 11.4; 11.81, 11.5; 13.78, 11.5; 17.77, 12.0; 20.83, 13.6; Guy M Hurst