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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1354      1998 Nov 01 16.56UT
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
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VIDEO: THE ASTRONOMER 1998 AGM
The video of the 1998 AGM, kindly recorded by Nick James, is now
available and costs L12.00 (12 pounds) post paid to UK
destinations. Please add 30% for other European countries. Orders
and enquiries concerning air-mail to other countries should be
sent to Peter Meadows, 6 Chelmerton Avenue, Great Baddow,
Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9RE.
The video features the following talks:
Annual report, Guy Hurst; Coping with light pollution, Gary Poyner;
Supernova spectra and the amateur, Maurice Gavin;
Giacobinids and Leonids, John Mason; 1998 Annual awards;
Ruling a diffraction grating, Brian Manning;
The nature and nurture of galaxies, Duncan Forbes.
The highlights include Brian's 8mm cine film, Gary's use of
bin-liners for dark adaption and a typical John Mason extravaganza!
Running time: 2h58m

SUPERNOVA 1998el IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
L. Germany reports the discovery by the Mount Stromlo Abell Cluster
Supernova Search Team (cf. IAUC 6639) of an apparent supernova
(V = 19.6) on V and R CCD images (limiting mag V = 20.5) taken on
Oct. 22 by M. MacDonald with the Mount Stromlo 1.27-m telescope
(+ Macho Camera).  SN 1998el is located near Abell 3122 at:
R.A. = 3h21m01s.21, Decl. = -41o33'06".6 (2000), which is 0".9 east
of the centre of its host galaxy.  A nearby star has position end
figures 07s.77, 03".6.  SN 1998el was not visible on similar images
taken on Oct. 3 (limiting mag V = 20.0) but was confirmed by
M. MacDonald with the same telescope on Oct. 23.
IAUC 7039 (extract)

SUPERNOVA 1998em IN IC 4837A
J. Maza, Department of Astronomy, University of Chile, reports
the discovery of a supernova (B about 16.5) by Roberto Antezana on
a T-Max 400 film taken by L. E. Gonzalez with the Maksutov
telescope at Cerro El Roble on Oct. 26.96 UT.  SN 1998em is located
at R.A. = 19h15m12s.69, Decl. = -54o06'49".7 (2000), which is 26"
west and 67" north of the spiral galaxy IC 4837A.
IAUC 7041 (extract)

COMET P/1998 U4 (SPAHR)
Elements for the comet announced on E1353:
T  1999 Mar  28.7530 TT      w 253.68000 )
e  0.30575000                O 183.97800 ) 2000.0
q  3.9303400 A.U.            i  32.60500 )
Source: IAUC 7043    Positions are geocentric
Ephemeris by Hurst using EPH.EXE by Nick James:
m =  8.0 + 5.0 log R + 10.0 log r
  Date    R.A. (2000) Dec.     R       r     Elong  Mag.    Motion
          h  m       o  '     (AU)    (AU)     o          "/hr P.A.
1998 Oct
  29.00   4  8.13  -12  8.0   3.169   3.996  141.6  16.5    26  214
1998 Nov
   3.00   4  6.03  -12 49.0   3.148   3.992  143.8  16.5    26  220
   8.00   4  3.67  -13 26.7   3.133   3.987  145.2  16.5    25  225
  13.00   4  1.11  -14  0.7   3.125   3.984  145.9  16.5    25  230
  18.00   3 58.42  -14 30.4   3.123   3.980  145.8  16.5    24  235
  23.00   3 55.66  -14 55.4   3.128   3.976  144.8  16.5    23  241
  28.00   3 52.90  -15 15.4   3.139   3.973  143.1  16.5    22  246
Guy M Hurst