THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 476        1991 Jan 10 20.45UT
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   GUYH@UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER
TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885                        PRESTEL 256471074
--------------------------------------------------------------------
COMET ARAI (1991b)
The following precise positions have been reported:
     1991 UT             R.A. (1950) Decl.        m1    Observer
     Jan.  7.53333    8 50 02.8    +16 17 57     10     Kushida
           7.54809    8 50 01.0    +16 20 04              "
           7.75989    8 49 28.51   +16 48 08.0    9.5   Seki
           8.51811    8 47 34.42   +18 29 05.2          Kojima
           8.52454    8 47 33.40   +18 29 58.0   10       "
           8.53692    8 47 31.42   +18 31 36.5            "
Y. Kushida and R. Kushida (Yatsugatake South Base Observatory).
  0.20-m f/4.8 reflector.  Measurer O. Muramatsu.  Communicated
  by H. Kosai.
T. Seki (Geisei).  Communicated by Kosai and S. Nakano.
T. Kojima (Chiyoda).  0.25-m f/3.4 Wright-Schmidt camera.
     Preliminary parabolic orbital elements by S. Nakano, Sumoto,
Japan, from 9 observations Jan. 6-8:
     T = 1990 Dec. 12.084 ET          Peri. = 338.639
                                      Node  = 114.852   1950.0
     q = 1.44128 AU                   Incl. =  71.354

     1991 ET      R.A. (1950) Decl.     Delta      r       m1
     Jan.  4     8 58.03    + 8 41.1    0.552    1.478    10.4
           6     8 53.68    +12 56.5
           8     8 48.88    +17 20.0    0.537    1.492    10.4
          10     8 43.62    +21 47.4
          12     8 37.88    +26 13.9    0.538    1.507    10.4
          14     8 31.68    +30 34.6
          16     8 25.02    +34 45.4    0.555    1.525    10.6
          18     8 17.92    +38 42.4
          20     8 10.42    +42 23.0    0.587    1.544    10.7
          22     8 02.56    +45 45.6
          24     7 54.40    +48 49.5    0.633    1.565    11.0
          26     7 46.00    +51 34.7
          28     7 37.44    +54 01.9    0.688    1.588    11.2

IAUC 5158
Peter Birtwhistle, Godstone, telexes observation on 1991 Jan 9.04UT
in 20x80B with m1=9.7, dia 6', DC 1. In 0.216-m Refl. x60 m1 was
estimated as 9.9.
Roy Panther, Northampton, reports he observed the comet on 1991
Jan 7.96UT at m1=11.7 in 0.26-m refl. x37. He advises the comet is
very diffuse, dia 6', DC 1 and very close to the field of Jupiter.

BAA MEETINGS
Martin Mobberley advises us that the BAA Deep Sky Meeting of Feb 16