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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1166      1997 Feb 06 20.58UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+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 C/1997 C1 (GEHRELS)
Tom Gehrels, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, reports his discovery
of a comet by eye in the course of the Spacewatch program.
Available CCD precise positions:
     1997 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.        m1    Observer
     Feb.  1.36102    9 11 33.00   +12 17 35.0   17.9   Gehrels
           1.38901    9 11 32.08   +12 17 38.9            "
           1.41641    9 11 31.13   +12 17 43.0            "
           2.01610    9 11 11.05   +12 19 13.4   17.9   Ticha
           2.01816    9 11 11.00   +12 19 13.4            "
           2.02000    9 11 10.99   +12 19 13.8            "
           2.02227    9 11 10.87   +12 19 14.6            "
           2.02534    9 11 10.71   +12 19 14.8            "

T. Gehrels (Kitt Peak).  0.9-m Spacewatch telescope.  Condensation
   of diameter 7".  Fuzzy tail, 0'.5 long in p.a. 280 deg.
IAUC 6549 (extract)

Stephen Laurie reports successful imaging with his CCD equipment
and 0.25-m Schmidt-Cassegrain from Church Stretton:

     1997 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.        m1    Observer
     Feb   2.95108    9 10 39.47   +12 21 35.7   17.0   Laurie
           3.00616    9 10 37.57   +12 21 44.7            "

The following very uncertain, parabolic orbital elements are from
20 observations Feb. 1-3.  It seems likely that the comet is of
short period.

     T = 1998 Apr. 20.929 TT          Peri. =  31.014
                                      Node  = 203.382   2000.0
     q = 2.17053 AU                   Incl. =   3.269

1997 TT     R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r    Elong.Phase m1
Feb.  1     9 11.75    +12 16.7    4.128    5.109  174.2   1.1 17.2
      6     9 08.93    +12 29.5    4.084    5.068  176.0   0.8 17.1
     11     9 06.06    +12 42.8    4.048    5.028  171.9   1.6 17.0
     16     9 03.20    +12 56.4    4.021    4.987  166.5   2.6 17.0
     21     9 00.41    +13 09.9    4.000    4.946  160.9   3.7 17.0
     26     8 57.73    +13 23.3    3.988    4.905  155.3   4.8 16.9
Mar.  3     8 55.22    +13 36.3    3.982    4.864  149.7   5.9 16.9
IAUC 6550 (extract)


Guy M Hurst