------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1043 1996 Feb 04 11.19UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET C/1996 B2 (HYAKUTAKE) Continuation of ephemeris on E1042: Date R.A. (2000) Dec. R r Elong Mag. Motion h m o ' (AU) (AU) o "/hr P.A. 1996 Mar 10.00 14 54.38 -19 16.4 0.558 1.378 122.9 5.6 94 4 11.00 14 54.52 -18 36.4 0.525 1.359 124.1 5.4 106 2 12.00 14 54.61 -17 50.7 0.493 1.340 125.3 5.2 121 1 13.00 14 54.65 -16 58.2 0.460 1.321 126.5 5.0 140 0 14.00 14 54.61 -15 57.5 0.428 1.301 127.8 4.8 162 359 15.00 14 54.49 -14 46.6 0.396 1.282 129.2 4.6 190 358 16.00 14 54.27 -13 23.0 0.364 1.262 130.6 4.3 226 358 17.00 14 53.94 -11 43.2 0.333 1.243 132.0 4.1 271 357 18.00 14 53.46 -9 42.5 0.302 1.223 133.5 3.8 331 356 19.00 14 52.79 -7 13.9 0.271 1.203 135.1 3.5 410 356 20.00 14 51.88 -4 7.9 0.241 1.183 136.6 3.1 518 356 21.00 14 50.63 -0 10.2 0.212 1.163 138.0 2.8 668 355 22.00 14 48.91 +5 0.5 0.185 1.142 139.0 2.4 882 355 23.00 14 46.46 +11 55.0 0.159 1.122 139.0 2.0 1185 355 24.00 14 42.83 +21 14.6 0.137 1.101 137.0 1.6 1602 355 25.00 14 37.05 +33 40.7 0.120 1.080 131.6 1.2 2103 354 26.00 14 26.64 +49 13.3 0.110 1.059 121.8 1.0 2516 352 27.00 14 2.94 +66 9.6 0.109 1.038 109.0 0.9 2563 348 28.00 12 28.32 +80 59.2 0.118 1.017 96.0 0.9 2171 328 29.00 5 44.40 +82 17.4 0.134 0.996 85.0 1.1 1761 228 30.00 4 5.86 +73 47.4 0.156 0.974 76.5 1.3 1275 200 31.00 3 41.52 +66 51.5 0.181 0.953 70.0 1.6 947 194 1996 Apr 1.00 3 30.75 +61 33.9 0.208 0.931 65.0 1.8 717 191 2.00 3 24.64 +57 28.7 0.236 0.909 60.9 1.9 556 190 3.00 3 20.65 +54 15.5 0.265 0.886 57.6 2.1 442 190 4.00 3 17.79 +51 39.9 0.295 0.864 54.7 2.2 359 189 5.00 3 15.58 +49 31.9 0.326 0.841 52.2 2.3 298 189 6.00 3 13.79 +47 44.8 0.356 0.819 50.0 2.4 252 190 7.00 3 12.26 +46 13.5 0.387 0.796 48.0 2.4 216 190 8.00 3 10.91 +44 54.4 0.419 0.772 46.1 2.5 189 190 9.00 3 9.67 +43 45.0 0.450 0.749 44.3 2.5 168 191 10.00 3 8.50 +42 43.1 0.482 0.725 42.7 2.5 151 192 As observers will note the comet has every prospect of becoming a naked eye object during March as it makes a close approach to the Earth.(1996 Mar 27, 0.11AU). In the latter part of March it is also extremely well placed for observation from northern hemisphere latitudes. Whilst detailed plans are already being drawn up on a worldwide basis for the study of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), it now appears the Comet C/1996 B2 could become an even brighter and better placed object and both comets should present an excellent opportunity for observers who should begin preparations as soon as possible. The above ephemeris is highly uncertain, especially in late March but should assist with planning observations. Guy M Hurst