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