------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1216 1997 Jul 24 19.56UT 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 1997 O1 The Q1997/047 alert recently issued to the TAGRP related to a possible comet which has now been confirmed by Gordon Garradd in Australia. A. Beresford, Myrtle Bank, South Australia, reports the visual discovery by Justin Tillbrook of a comet. The following observations are available: 1997 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. m1 Observer July 22.43 12 28.4 -18 59 10 Tillbrook 23.37432 12 20 36.23 -18 09 19.0 Garradd 23.37542 12 20 36.35 -18 09 15.2 " 23.37651 12 20 36.52 -18 09 11.4 " 23.39653 12 20 39.27 -18 08 06.9 " 23.46318 12 20 48.67 -18 04 32.2 " 23.46596 12 20 49.02 -18 04 23.5 " 23.46876 12 20 49.36 -18 04 12.9 " J. Tillbrook (Clare, S. Australia). 0.20-m reflector. Coma diameter 60"-70"; motion about 3'/hr northward. G. J. Garradd (Loomberah, N.S.W.). 0.25-m f/4.1 reflector + CCD. 30-s CCD image shows 2' coma, no tail. IAUC 6705 Guy M Hurst