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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 868     1994 July 31 12.00 UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074
INTERNET: GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK  or    GMH at GXVG.AST.CAM.AC.UK
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EDITORIAL HOLIDAY
The Editor will be on holiday and unavailable between 1994
August 7-17. During that time Martin Mobberley will be in charge
of running 'TA' which will include the issue of these circulars
and the production of the August issue of 'The Astronomer'.
All messages, including discovery reports, should continue to
be sent via e-mail to this mailbox and the backup on GXVG which
will be monitored daily. Telephone queries to Martin should be
made to:
(0284) 828431 (weekends) or (0245) 475297 (weekdays)
Variable star alerts should continue to be directed to Gary
Poyner (GP at STAR.SR.BHAM.AC.UK) or tel: 021-605-3716.

PERIODIC COMET MCNAUGHT-HARTLEY (1994n)
Updated orbital elements (cf E865):
T  1994 Nov  11.2020 TT      w 300.21600 )
e  0.61969000                O  38.11800 ) 2000.0
q  2.6096900 A.U.            i  17.65500 )
Source: IAUC 6037    Positions are geocentric

Ephemeris by G.Hurst using EPH.EXE by N.James:

m = 10.0 + 5.0 log R + 10.0 log r

  Date    R.A. (2000) Dec.     R       r     Elong  Mag.    Motion
          h  m       o  '     (AU)    (AU)     o          "/hr P.A.
1994 July
  27.00  21 28.85  -43 50.2   1.820   2.758  152.0  15.7    19  235
1994 Aug
   1.00  21 25.78  -44  9.8   1.804   2.745  152.5  15.7    19  244
   6.00  21 22.41  -44 23.8   1.794   2.732  152.1  15.6    19  254
  11.00  21 18.90  -44 31.5   1.790   2.721  150.8  15.6    19  263
  16.00  21 15.40  -44 32.3   1.792   2.709  148.8  15.6    18  274
  21.00  21 12.05  -44 26.1   1.798   2.698  146.2  15.6    18  286
  26.00  21  9.01  -44 13.0   1.810   2.688  143.2  15.6    17  298
  31.00  21  6.39  -43 53.1   1.827   2.678  139.8  15.6    17  312
1994 Sept
   5.00  21  4.29  -43 26.7   1.849   2.669  136.2  15.6    18  326
  10.00  21  2.81  -42 54.4   1.875   2.661  132.5  15.6    19  340
  15.00  21  2.00  -42 16.6   1.905   2.653  128.8  15.6    20  353
  20.00  21  1.90  -41 34.0   1.939   2.646  125.0  15.7    22    4
  25.00  21  2.51  -40 47.3   1.977   2.639  121.2  15.7    25   13
  30.00  21  3.81  -39 56.8   2.018   2.634  117.4  15.7    28   20

LQ SAGITTARII
Further to the announcement on E856, U. Munari and T. Zwitter,
Asiago Astrophysical Observatory; and A. Bragaglia, Astronomical
Observatory, Bologna, communicate:
"A low-resolution, optical/near-infrared spectrogram of LQ Sgr
(= Nova Sgr 1897), recently announced as undergoing a
symbiotic-nova outburst, was secured on July 14.1 UT with the
Boller & Chivens spectrograph of the 1.5-m European Southern
Observatory telescope. The spectrum is typical of a Mira variable
close to maximum brightness. It does not resemble that of any known
symbiotic or classical nova at maximum or declining phases. We
therefore suggest that LQ Sgr is a normal Mira variable."

Martin Mobberley






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Date: Sun, 31 Jul 1994 17:55:04 +0100 (BST)