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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1050        1996 Feb 21 20:00UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst,  16,Westminster Close,  Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(01256)471074 Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK               GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK
WORLD WIDE WEB                      http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer
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COMET 29P/SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 1
This comet appears to be in outburst. It is currently well-placed for
observation in Sextans. The following total magnitudes are from
IAUC 6320 and are visual unless otherwise noted:

Jan. 4.83 UT, 13.8 (Kojima, Chiyoda, Japan, 0.25-m reflector + CCD);
21.34, 13.2 (A. Hale, Cloudcroft, NM, 0.41-m reflector); Feb. 2.64,
14.2 (Kojima); 13.25, 12.6 (R. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, 0.32-m
reflector; 2'.5 coma); 15.66, 13.3 (Kojima); 18.06, 13.8 (J.
Carvajal, Teruel, Spain, 0.44-m reflector); 19.54, 11.6 (Kojima;
strong, nearly stellar condensation with a faint coma extended
toward the northwest); 20.27, 11.8 (Hale; 0'.2 coma).
IAUC 6320

MIR SPACE STATION
February 21, 22 and 23 provide a good opportunity to observe the Russian
space station Mir. It should be visible from the UK/Ireland and much of
Europe as it is chased by new crew on a Soyuz (due for launch noon
Feb. 21 and taking 2-3 days to dock). Mir can flare up to mag -6 when
sunlight catches solar panels and it is usually mag -2 when overhead.
Soyuz could be mag +2 according to David Moore of Astronomy Ireland.

Those with Web access can get predictions of the precise time to watch
each evening from various sources (start at Astronomy Ireland's home page
http://www.iol.ie/~ai and follow the links from there for example).

David Moore would be interested to receive sightings quoting postion
(nearest town, or lat/long), UT time and date, time difference between
Mir passing a star and Soyuz passing the same star (or angular separation
if say closer than 10 degrees). His e-mail address is ai@iol.ie.

Mir reaches its maximum altitude at the following times for London, UK:
21/2/96		19:14	20:50
22/2/96		18:19	19:55	21:31
23/2/96		19:00	20:36

Nick James.