TA e-circular

<title>TA e-circular</title>
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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 570   1991 October 16 20.27UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:  (0256)471074 Int:+44256471074
Telex: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G                     JANET BOXES:
GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK or GUYH at UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER
TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885                       PRESTEL 256471074
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EF PEGASI
Patrick Schmeer, Germany, has reported a very rare outburst of this
UG-type variable which is located at:
RA 21h 12.7m DEC +13 52' (1950)
The GCVS has the range as 10.7-[17p and mentions that the variable
is component B of a double. Star A is approximately of magnitude
14.0pg and B is 5" away in positional angle 305deg.
Patrick provides the following estimates:
1991 Oct 14.913UT, 13.0; 15.779, 10.9.
He confirms that both components were visible in his 0.203-m SC and
that he would judge star A to be about visual magnitude 13.0.
In response to our e-mail alert, Gary Poyner, Birmingham, confirms
the outburst: Oct 15.853UT, 10.7 class 2.
USSR Circular 1043 (1979) mentions outbursts as follows:
1957 Aug 20, 11.4pg; 1962 Aug 29, 10.7pg; 1964 Oct 10, 11.2pg.
In view of the duplicity, extreme care is needed with estimates and
reports should state whether both stars were seen when estimates
were made. A chart can be sent on e-mail request.

PERIODIC COMET McNAUGHT-HUGHES (1991y)
R. H. McNaught provides the following additional measurements from
films taken with the Uppsala Southern Schmidt telescope at Siding
Spring:
     1991 UT             R.A. (1950) Decl.
     Oct.  2.55556   23 09 09.64   -18 47 58.9
           2.73611   23 09 05.38   -18 47 46.3
           5.52552   23 08 06.55   -18 44 11.9
     The following preliminary orbital elements, from the six
available observations, indicate that this is a short-period comet:
     T = 1991 June 29.248 ET          Peri. = 231.290
     e = 0.39604                      Node  =  87.864   1950.0
     q = 2.17255 AU                   Incl. =   7.304
       a =  3.59718 AU     n = 0.144464     P =   6.82 years

     1991 ET      R.A. (1950) Decl.     Delta      r       m1
     Oct.  1    23 09.79    -18 49.1    1.345    2.277    16.5
           6    23 07.96    -18 43.4
          11    23 06.70    -18 31.9    1.427    2.299    16.7
          16    23 06.05    -18 15.0
          21    23 06.04    -17 53.0    1.527    2.323    16.9
          26    23 06.66    -17 26.5
          31    23 07.90    -16 55.9    1.642    2.349    17.1
IAUC 5360

PERIODIC COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY 5 (1991z)
The following preliminary orbital elements, from the five available
observations, indicate that this is a short-period comet:
     T = 1991 Dec.  1.533 ET          Peri. =   0.430
     e = 0.48700                      Node  =  30.062   1950.0
     q = 1.96464 AU                   Incl. =  11.057
       a =  3.82974 AU     n = 0.131507     P =   7.49 years
IAUC 5361
The comet is mag 16 and fading.

Guy M Hurst
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