THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 751 1993 June 26 17.13UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 TELEX: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK STARLINK: CAVAD::GMH ------------------------------------------------------------------- URANUS A report has appeared on IAUC 5820 by W.Wild et.al., University of Chicago that a black spot has been detected on Uranus from images secured on 1993 May 30.476-30.493 using the MMT E mirror and the University of Arizona ACME adaptive optics system. The diameter of the spot is equivalent to about 0.5 arcseconds and was detected on J, H and K images. A fuller report will appear in the next issue of 'The Astronomer'. 1993 MF E. F. Helin reports the discovery by herself and K. Lawrence of a fast-moving asteroidal object. The following positions are available: 1993 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. V Observer June 22.42674 20 13 08.28 + 3 04 37.2 13 Helin 22.45694 20 13 13.50 + 3 06 16.6 " 24.29080 20 18 40.71 + 4 49 35.0 " 24.45434 20 19 07.82 + 4 59 01.8 " 25.33785 20 21 49.75 + 5 50 01.8 13.7 Rogers 25.34618 20 21 51.15 + 5 50 30.5 " 25.36363 20 21 54.14 + 5 51 29.8 " 25.36814 20 21 55.00 + 5 51 47.6 " 25.37439 20 21 55.99 + 5 52 07.4 " 25.39663 20 21 59.85 + 5 53 26.1 " 25.58553 20 22 35.17 + 6 04 59.4 McNaught E. Helin, K. Lawrence, M. Nassir, and W. Johnson (Palomar). 0.46-m Schmidt telescope films measured by Lawrence. J. E. Rogers (Camarillo, CA). 0.25-m Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD (V). R. H. McNaught and G. Garradd (Siding Spring). Measured by McNaught. Very preliminary orbital elements by G. V. Williams, SAO: T = 1993 Aug. 3.907 TT Peri. = 78.083 e = 0.58356 Node = 241.031 2000.0 q = 1.14293 AU Incl. = 8.441 a = 2.74452 AU n = 0.216773 P = 4.55 years 1993 TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase V June 22 20 11.90 + 2 41.3 0.296 1.256 139.2 32.0 13.7 24 20 17.78 + 4 33.2 0.287 1.246 138.4 32.8 13.7 26 20 23.84 + 6 28.9 0.279 1.237 137.4 33.8 13.6 28 20 30.10 + 8 27.8 0.272 1.228 136.4 34.8 13.6 30 20 36.56 +10 29.4 0.265 1.219 135.3 35.9 13.5 July 2 20 43.24 +12 33.1 0.259 1.211 134.0 37.1 13.5 4 20 50.13 +14 38.1 0.254 1.204 132.7 38.3 13.5 6 20 57.24 +16 43.7 0.249 1.196 131.4 39.6 13.4 8 21 04.57 +18 49.0 0.245 1.189 130.0 40.9 13.4 Editor: This is an exceptionally bright object for the discovery of a fast-moving asteroid and represents an excellent opportunity to secure photovisual and CCD results. Both magnitude determination at frequent intervals (say every 30 minutes) to determine orbital rotation, and also astrometry would be particularly valuable,