TA e-circular

<title>TA e-circular</title>
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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 407         1990 Apr 29 15.16UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close,  Kempshott Rise,   Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:   (0256)471074  Int:+44256471074
Telex: 94082518 Answerback: TAGUY                 Microlink: MAG60138
JANET:GMH @ UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK or GUYH@UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER
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HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
The Space Telescope Science Institute reports that the orbiter
Discovery was launched on Apr. 24.52 UT, and its crew successfully
deployed the Hubble Space Telescope on Apr. 25.82 into an orbit
with minimum and maximum altitudes of 613 and 615 km (331 and 332
nautical miles), respectively.  The HST was developed by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European Space Agency
for scientific research by the international astronomical community.
If nominal performance continues during initial verification
activities for the HST observatory, the first cycle of General
Observer observations will begin about the end of 1990 December.
IAUC 5000
 
COMET AUSTIN (1989c1)
     The following post-perihelion precise positions have been
reported:
 
     1990 UT             R.A. (1950) Decl.       Observer
     Apr. 25.49375    0 34 56.36   +35 53 27.3   Helin
          26.47083    0 29 57.87   +35 57 38.9   Bus
          26.47986    0 29 55.09   +35 57 39.4     "
          26.76775    0 28 26.12   +35 58 22.8   Okamura
          26.76917    0 28 25.71   +35 58 22.8     "
          26.77066    0 28 25.23   +35 58 23.2     "
          26.77375    0 28 24.20   +35 58 24.3     "
          26.77625    0 28 23.44   +35 58 24.8     "
          26.77750    0 28 23.10   +35 58 24.4     "
 
E. Helin, B. Roman, K. Lawrence, and R. Lopes (Palomar).  0.46-m
  Schmidt telescope.  Measured by Roman.
S. J. Bus (Lowell Observatory, Anderson Mesa Station).  0.33-m
  telescope.  Measured by B. A. Skiff.  Communicated by E. Bowell.
  Straight ion tail in p.a. 310 deg.
S. Okamura (Kiso).
 
     The following orbital elements, by Dan Green, satisfy 57
observations 1989 Dec. 6-1990 Apr. 26 (mean residual 0".8):
 
                    Epoch = 1990 Apr. 19.0 ET
     T = 1990 Apr.  9.96739 ET        Peri. =  61.56934
     e = 1.0002278                    Node  =  75.22965 1950.0
     q = 0.3497735 AU                 Incl. =  58.95559
IAUC 5001
 
TA DATABASE
The membership records have now been transferred to the Amstrad 2286
and I shall be grateful if subscribers will check address labels on
any snail-mail they receive and advise of any amendments required. I
am grateful to Nick James and Martin Mobberley for their invaluable
help with this transfer work. I plan to reorganise databases on all
existing TA catalogues and to expand this service to new areas during
1990.
 
Guy M Hurst
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