------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1189 1997 May 04 10.40UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- (6411) TAMAGA = 1993 TA It has been announced on MPC 29671 of 1997 April 22 that an asteroid has been named after our organisation 'The Astronomer' following a suggestion by Rob McNaught the discoverer. The following citation has appeared: Discovered 1993 Oct. 8 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring. Named for The Astronomer, a British magazine in which active amateur astronomers publish and discuss their observations. Founded in 1964 by James Muirden as The Casual Astronomer, the magazine has developed over the years to include rapid discovery announcements and many other initiatives by the current editor, Guy Hurst. The search programs for novae and supernovae and the observational programs for cataclysmic variables initiated through the magazine have been most successful. The subscribers include many of the most active and talented amateurs in the U.K.\ and overseas. The discoverer's own interest in observational astronomy was spurred by TA. Robert has also provided the following orbital elements: (6411) Tamaga Epoch 1997 June 1.0 TT = JDT 2450600.5 (M-c) Marsden M 263.82737 (2000.0) P Q n 0.21436982 Peri. 271.70354 +0.30353628 -0.93561113 a 2.7649903 Node 157.84607 +0.94639022 +0.31798527 e 0.4178765 Incl. 28.55810 -0.11050462 +0.15335315 P 4.60 H 13.0 G 0.15 U 1 >From 45 observations at 4 oppositions, 1985-1995. Ref. MPC 25206. The following ephemeris has been downloaded from the CBAT computer service by the Editor: (6411) Tamaga a,e,i = 2.76, 0.42, 29 Elements MPC 25206 Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase V 1997 05 02 20 27.51 +04 12.0 3.216 3.390 91.2 17.3 19.1 1997 05 12 20 31.20 +05 03.1 3.051 3.360 98.9 17.3 19.0 1997 05 22 20 33.22 +05 48.9 2.889 3.329 107.0 16.9 18.8 1997 06 01 20 33.42 +06 26.8 2.734 3.297 115.3 16.1 18.6 1997 06 11 20 31.66 +06 53.3 2.588 3.265 123.8 15.0 18.5 1997 06 21 20 27.89 +07 04.7 2.457 3.231 132.5 13.4 18.3 1997 07 01 20 22.21 +06 57.4 2.343 3.197 140.9 11.6 18.1 1997 07 11 20 14.89 +06 28.4 2.250 3.162 148.5 9.7 17.9 1997 07 21 20 06.43 +05 36.1 2.181 3.126 153.9 8.2 17.7 1997 07 31 19 57.50 +04 21.1 2.140 3.089 154.9 8.0 17.7 1997 08 10 19 48.90 +02 46.5 2.125 3.052 151.0 9.3 17.7 Could we appeal for current images to be secured of this object. We are most grateful to Rob McNaught for proposing the naming of this object in recognition of the collective efforts of TA members. SCIENCE NOW, RADIO 4 Nick James will be speaking on the above programme due to be broadcast on Tuesday evening 1997 May 6 on Radio 4 at 8pm. His comments relate to PRO-AM and software released to us from STARLINK. Guy M Hurst