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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1251      1997 Nov 12 22.41UT
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
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COMET C/1997 V1 (LARSEN)
The following are preliminary parabolic orbital elements from 35
observations, Nov. 3-5 for the object reported on E1249 and now
designated as above. It is possible that the comet is of short
period.

     T = 1997 Feb.  1.11 TT           Peri. =  60.16
                                      Node  = 227.80    2000.0
     q = 1.9165 AU                    Incl. =  14.60

1997 TT     R. A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong. Phase    m1
Nov.  3     0 14.25   +12 30.5   2.826   3.693  146.3    8.6   15.9
      8     0 13.40   +12 00.2   2.913   3.737  141.2    9.6   16.0
     13     0 12.97   +11 32.7   3.005   3.781  136.1   10.5   16.2
     18     0 12.94   +11 08.4   3.102   3.825  131.1   11.2   16.3
     23     0 13.30   +10 47.1   3.203   3.869  126.1   11.9   16.4
     28     0 14.04   +10 29.1   3.309   3.912  121.2   12.5   16.5
IAUC 6770

SUPERNOVA 1997dq IN NGC 3810
S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Masakatsu
Aoki, Tsukioka-cho, Toyama, of an apparent supernova (mag 15.0) on
seven unfiltered CCD frames taken on Nov. 2 (limiting mag about
18.5) and confirmed on three frames taken on Nov. 3, using a 0.43-m
f/6 reflector.  The supernova is located at R.A. = 11h40m55s.90,
Decl. = +11o28'45".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 43" west and 29"
north of the centre of NGC 3810.  No star is present at this
location on his numerous previous frames, taken between 1996 Dec.
21 and 1997 May 17.
     S. Jha, P. Challis, P. Garnavich, and R. Kirshner, Harvard-
Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, report that a spectrum of SN
1997dq, taken by Challis and Jha at the Multiple Mirror Telescope
on Nov. 5.5 UT, indicates that it is a type-Ib supernova near
maximum light.  The spectrum exhibits features of Fe II, He I, C
II, O I, and Ca II. The recession velocity of the host galaxy,
measured from narrow H-alpha emission, is 900 km/s.
IAUC 6770

Guy M Hurst