TA e-circular

<title>TA e-circular</title>
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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 583       1991 Nov 29 20.35UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(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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(5000) IAU = 1987 QN7
MPC 19 342 received today announces the naming of the 5000th
asteroid by the entire membership of IAU Commission 20. The minor
planet was discovered on 1987 Aug 23 by E.F.Helin at Palomar.
The citation reads:
Named in homour of the International Astronomical Union,
established in 1919 as the international association of
professional astronomers. Most of its activity is concentrated in
some 40 commissions, each devoted to some particular area of
astronomical or astrophysical research. At a competition held
in July 1991 among members of Commission 20, "Positions and
Motions of Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites", for the
selection of a name for the five-thousandth minor planet to
be given a permanent number the name "IAU" received the largest
number of votes, including that of the discoverer.
MPC 19 342

V1251 CYGNI
Timo Kinnunen, Finland, e-mails further estimates of the
recent outburst of this star:
1991 Nov 6.84, 14.8; 9.79, 15.3 and flickering; 10.71, 15.5;
12.67, [16.5.

SCOVIL'S OBJECT IN CYGNUS (Q1991/107)
Kinnunen also reports that he observed this star, located at
RA 21h 40.8m DEC +31 20'(1950) and suspected of being a UG
variable, on 1991 Nov 12.67UT at about 16.2, possibly near
minimum.

PQ ANDROMEDAE - STAR L (Q1991/108)
Kinnunen also reports that he suspects star L on the TA sequence
for PQ And (=Nova And 1988) may be a variable. On 1991 Nov 9.82
it was estimated at 12.7 for a period of one minute but then
faded to its normal level. Although he quotes this as magnitude
13.3 according to the latest revision of 900927 the adopted
value of L is 13.7. Further reports on this comparison would
be welcomed.

COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY (1991d1)
E. M. and C. S. Shoemaker communicate the following observation
by C. Brewer, which is the average of 3 measurements of the trail
visible on the Palomar 1.2-m Schmidt plate:
     1991 UT             R.A. (1950) Decl.
     Nov. 16.36458    3 28 08.24   +43 56 55.0
Following are preliminary parabolic orbital elements from the 4
available observations.  This may be a short-period comet.
     T = 1991 Sept.15.954 ET          Peri. =   7.521
                                      Node  = 355.115   1950.0
     q = 1.23118 AU                   Incl. =  10.361
     1991 ET      R.A. (1950) Decl.     Delta      r       m1
     Nov  30     3 25.69    +42 29.1    0.720    1.670    17.5
     Dec.  5     3 25.75    +41 46.9
          10     3 26.47    +41 02.8    0.835    1.769    18.1
          15     3 27.89    +40 18.5
          20     3 29.97    +39 35.2    0.969    1.872    18.7
Guy M Hurst
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