THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 692 1992 Dec 19 14.14UT
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 TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885
GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH
GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK STARLINK: CAVAD::GMH
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PERIODIC COMET KOJIMA (1992z)
J. V. Scotti reports his recovery of this comet using the
Spacewatch telescope at Kitt Peak. On Dec. 1, the comet was
essentially stellar with a hint of extended size. The indicated
correction to the prediction on MPC 18256 (ephemeris on MPC 21280)
is Delta(T) = -0.05 day.
1992 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1
Oct. 21.40510 2 30 07.03 +13 41 28.8 22.1
Dec. 1.12069 2 03 21.13 +11 24 30.8 20.7
1.15768 2 03 20.00 +11 24 25.6 21.0
IAUC 5667
(2060) CHIRON
S. Larson and R. Marcialis, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory,
obtained Cousins red CCD images of (2060) Chiron with the Steward
Observatory 2.3-m telescope on Nov. 30.4 UT that showed a well-
developed tail at least 50" long (possibly off the field at 80") at
p.a. 288 deg.
IAUC 5669
PERIODIC COMET SWIFT-TUTTLE (1992t)
Observations in mid-November show that ephemerides from the
gravitational orbital elements on IAUC 5636 (by B. G. Marsden,
utilizing the 1862 Oct. observations) and on MPC 21081 (by
D. K. Yeomans, utilizing the 1862 July-Sept. observations) were
both running off by as much as 15" in declination, the truth being
roughly midway in between. As anticipated, gravitational solutions
now completely fail to link the apparitions. The nongravitational
solution below, from MPC 21235, satisfies 383 observations with a
mean residual of 1".3 and removes much of the systematic effect,
but the residual trend in 1862 Oct. is still in excess of 10" in
both R.A. and Decl. The computed perihelion time in 1737 is about
0.5 day too early.
Epoch = 1992 Dec. 4.0 TT
T = 1992 Dec. 12.3243 TT Peri. = 153.0016
e = 0.963589 Node = 139.4441 2000.0
q = 0.958216 AU Incl. = 113.4266
a = 26.316841 AU n = 0.0073005 P = 135.005 years
Nongravitational parameters are A1 = -0.00079 +/- 0.00002,
A2 = -0.00266 +/- 0.00007. The new solution also satisfies the
following pre-recovery observations:
1992 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1 Observer
Jan. 3.07847 10 00 08.38 +42 59 08.0 17.5 Haver
3.09184 10 00 07.84 +42 59 16.0 "
7.08767 9 56 32.45 +43 56 49.2 18 Kohoutek
R. Haver (Cima Ekar). 0.4-m f/2.5 Schmidt. Measurers A. Boattini
and M. Tombelli.
IAUC 5670
Editor: The Jan 3 results were communicated direct to TA by Roberto
Haver and were the subject of residuals tests by N.James.
Following our report to CBAT Brian Marsden asked for a search of a
plate by L. Kohoutek (Calar Alto) which led to the January 7
result.
Guy M Hurst