-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 884. 1994 Sep 18 13.42UT
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PERIODIC COMET REINMUTH 1 (1994p)
Independent recoveries of this comet have been reported by
A.Nakamura and J. V. Scotti, as follows; the comet is close to the
prediction on MPC 20123 (ephemeris on MPC 23873):
1994 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1 Observer
Sept. 1.68495 2 40 57.41 + 5 15 07.0 19.9 Nakamura
1.70087 2 40 57.49 + 5 15 02.0 "
1.71834 2 40 57.60 + 5 15 01.6 "
3.70955 2 41 11.64 + 5 09 55.5 20.1 "
3.76013 2 41 11.89 + 5 09 48.0 "
6.41378 2 41 23.38 + 5 02 21.9 19.6 Scotti
6.42217 2 41 23.38 + 5 02 20.1 22.0 "
6.44706 2 41 23.40 + 5 02 15.6 20.3 "
6.46881 2 41 23.43 + 5 02 11.6 19.8 "
A. Nakamura (Kuma Kogen). 0.60-m f/6.0 Ritchey-Chretien telescope
+ CCD. Comet nearly stellar. Communicated by S. Nakano.
J. V. Scotti (Kitt Peak). Spacewatch telescope. 9" coma; 0'.30
tail in p.a. 262o; m2 = 22.0.
IAUC 6072
NOTICE REGARDING DESIGNATIONS AND NAMES OF COMETS
At a meeting on Aug. 24 the IAU General Assembly adopted a
resolution that will result in a change in the cometary designation
system effective 1995 Jan. 1. The present year/letter and
year/Roman numeral systems will be replaced by a single system
resembling that for minor planets, with objects recorded by the
halfmonth. Thus the third comet reported as discovered during the
second half of Feb. 1995 would be designated 1995 D3. Much of the
rationale for the change stems from the difficulty that is
sometimes apparent in deciding whether a particular object is in
fact a comet or a minor planet (e.g., 2060 Chiron, 1990 UL3 =
1990p = 1990 XVI P/Shoemaker-Levy 2, 1977t = 1977 YA, etc.). When
appropriate, the nature --or suggested nature--of an object can be
indicated by preceding the designation with A/ (for minor planet),
C/ (for comet), P/ (as now, for periodic comet), etc. In a
process analogous to the permanent numbering of minor planets,
sequential numbers will be defined for comets whose periodicity has
been well established, and in such cases these numbers should
immediately precede the P/ notation; "routine" recoveries of these
periodic comets will not in the future receive additional
designations. The system also allows the recognition of components
of comets that have split, of cometary images that have been noted
on the Palomar Sky Survey (for example), and the indication that
some periodic comets have been lost (or, in one recent famous case,
destroyed). The IAU resolution, which was published in its entirety
on MPC 23803-23804 on Aug. 28, also touched briefly upon the matter
of comet names. It affirmed the intent "to retain in general terms
the tradition of naming comets for their discoverers" while at the
same time noting the need "to ensure fairness and simplicity".
IAUC 6076
Guy M Hurst