------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1171 1997 Feb 17 20.41UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET P/1997 B1 (KOBAYASHI) On Jan. 31 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reported observations on Jan. 30 and 31 by Takao Kobayashi of what appeared to be a minor planet. Further observations through Feb. 2 showed the orbit to be decidedly cometary. In response to a CBAT enquiry, W. Offutt verified that the object is indeed a comet. 1997 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m2 Observer Jan. 30.70931 10 00 20.77 +16 29 55.6 18 Kobayashi 30.72829 10 00 20.04 +16 29 48.0 " 31.66902 9 59 51.71 +16 22 47.8 " 31.68528 9 59 51.20 +16 22 40.5 " T. Kobayashi (Oizumi). 0.41-m f/4.3 reflector. IAUC 6553 (extract) Elliptical orbital elements by Brian Mardsen: T = 1997 Mar. 4.295 TT Peri. = 184.202 e = 0.76831 Node = 329.032 2000.0 q = 2.06219 AU Incl. = 12.490 a = 8.90047 AU n = 0.037118 P = 26.55 years 1997 TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase m2 Feb 16 9 50.54 +14 22.9 1.082 2.069 177.2 1.3 16.9 21 9 47.36 +13 41.3 1.082 2.066 172.0 3.8 17.1 26 9 44.40 +12 58.7 1.088 2.063 166.5 6.4 17.2 Mar. 3 9 41.83 +12 15.3 1.099 2.062 161.1 9.0 17.4 8 9 39.76 +11 31.3 1.117 2.063 155.8 11.4 17.5 13 9 38.33 +10 46.8 1.140 2.064 150.6 13.7 17.6 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports that images obtained at Kuma Kogen by A. Nakamura (0.6-m f/6 Ritchey-Chretien) on Feb. 4.75 UT show an obvious coma and a tail 35" long in p.a. 290 deg. IAUC 6554 (extract) SUPERNOVA 1997Y IN NGC 4675 W.-d. Li, Y.-l. Qiu, Q.-y. Qiao, and J.-y. Hu, Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO), on behalf of the BAO supernova survey, report the discovery of an apparent supernova on unfiltered CCD images of NGC 4675 taken on Feb. 2 and 7 with the BAO 0.60-m reflector. SN 1997Y is located at R.A. = 12h45m31s.40, Decl. = +54o44'17".0 (equinox 2000.0), which is 7".5 west and 1".6 north of the galaxy's nucleus. The object brightened from mag approximately 14.8 on Feb. 2 to 14.4 on Feb. 7. Unfiltered CCD images of the same field taken on Jan. 24 showed no star at the position of SN 1997Y. IAUC 6556 COMET C/1995 O1 (HALE-BOPP) We continue to submit regular reports to the professional astronomers and Mark Kidger in Tenerife is updating the light curve. To assist in TA observers obtaining feedback we recommend selecting our new PRO-AM page from the main URL at the header of this circular. On the latter page there is now a link to the page of light curves being maintained from our data. Guy M Hurst