THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 244 1989 Jan 15  12.47UT.
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.
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P/COMET RUSSELL 3 (1989d)
J.Gibson reports his recovery of this comet with the Palomar 1.5-m
reflector:
1989UT Jan 1.44638 RA 9h31m12.15s DEC -02 28'04.9" m2=20
           2.33951    9 30 53.40      -02 30 46.3
Improved elements by Marsden:
Epoch=1990 May 29.0 ET
T   =1990 May 17.8860 ET               Peri= 353.2243
e   =0.343269                          Node= 248.0158 (1950)
q   =2.517259 AU                       Incl=  14.0874
a   =3.832997 AU   n=0.1313398  P   =   7.504 years       IAUC 4710

COMET YANAKA (1989a)
Improved elements based on 27 observations Jan 2-10:
T   =1988 Oct.29.194ET                Peri= 349.701
                                       Node= 155.895 (1950)
q   =1.86114 AU                        Incl=   5.911      IAUC 4711

P/COMET HALLEY (1986 III)
R.M.West, European Southern Observatory, reports that the activity
level of this comet has decreased compared with 1988 May. Latest
results, based on Jan 4-9 yield  Johnson V=23.6 for the nucleus.
                                                          IAUC 4712
FSV 113211
A.V.Filippenko, Universitq of California at Berkeley, reports that
a spectrum (range 600-910nm) of this object (cf E-237) obtained on
Jan 4 with the 3-m Shane telescope shows prominent H-alpha
emission.                                                 IAUC 4712

TA INDEX
We welcome the return of John Hosty to our group. His new mailbox
is: MAG36986

NAKED EYE SUNSPOT
Paul Sutherland (MAG31707) reports there is a prominent sunspot
group currently visible to the naked eye. Does anyone have
observations?

Guy M Hurst