THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 658 1992 August 10 18.30 UT 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 TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH ------------------------------------------------------------------- PERIODIC COMET DANIEL (1992o) S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports that T. Seki, Geisei, has recovered this comet, which is very close to the prediction on MPC 14594 (ephemeris on MPC 20169). The comet is diffuse with central condensation. 1992 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1 July 29.78576 5 38 34.79 +21 14 15.5 19 Aug. 8.78646 6 07 55.29 +22 43 06.9 18 9.78765 6 10 53.81 +22 51 08.0 18 IAUC 5581 1992 LR Improved orbital elements from MPC 20646 confirm that this object should be within amateur astrophotographic range within the next few months. Epoch = 1992 June 27.0 TT T = 1992 July 25.3730 TT Peri. = 67.5021 e = 0.408824 Node = 233.4266 2000.0 q = 1.081975 AU Incl. = 2.0248 a = 1.830208 AU n = 0.3980645 P = 2.476 years 1992 TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase V Aug. 6 19 48.41 + 5 51.6 0.085 1.089 150.5 27.3 14.1 8 20 03.58 + 6 11.0 0.087 1.091 151.9 26.0 14.1 10 20 18.10 + 6 24.6 0.090 1.094 153.1 24.7 14.1 12 20 31.87 + 6 32.9 0.093 1.098 154.4 23.5 14.2 14 20 44.82 + 6 36.1 0.097 1.102 155.6 22.4 14.2 16 20 56.90 + 6 35.0 0.101 1.106 156.7 21.2 14.3 18 21 08.11 + 6 30.0 0.105 1.110 157.8 20.2 14.3 20 21 18.47 + 6 21.6 0.110 1.115 158.8 19.1 14.4 22 21 27.99 + 6 10.4 0.115 1.120 159.8 18.2 14.5 24 21 36.74 + 5 57.0 0.121 1.126 160.8 17.2 14.6 26 21 44.76 + 5 41.7 0.127 1.132 161.7 16.3 14.7 28 21 52.12 + 5 25.0 0.133 1.138 162.5 15.5 14.7 30 21 58.87 + 5 07.4 0.140 1.144 163.3 14.7 14.8 Sept. 1 22 05.08 + 4 49.1 0.147 1.151 164.0 14.0 14.9 3 22 10.79 + 4 30.4 0.154 1.158 164.6 13.4 15.0 5 22 16.07 + 4 11.7 0.162 1.165 165.1 12.9 15.1 7 22 20.96 + 3 53.1 0.170 1.173 165.4 12.5 15.2 9 22 25.50 + 3 34.8 0.179 1.181 165.6 12.2 15.4 11 22 29.72 + 3 16.9 0.187 1.189 165.6 12.1 15.5 13 22 33.66 + 2 59.5 0.197 1.197 165.4 12.2 15.6 15 22 37.36 + 2 42.7 0.206 1.206 165.1 12.4 15.7 IAUC 5581 PERSEID STORM? TA members are reminded that Japanese observers witnessed a surge of Perseid activity last year at Solar Longitude (2000.0) 139.56 degrees. If such activity is repeated this year, the surge will occur at approx- -imately 22h UT on August 11th (ie tomorrow night). Martin Mobberley (Assistant Editor)