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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1371      1999 Jan 01 17.09UT
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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CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Here are the answers to the quiz sent on E-Circular 1368:

1. a)How many supernovae have now been found by observers based in
England? Nine (Not 8 as many indicated!).
   b)Can you name the discoverers involved?
     Mark Armstrong, Stephen Laurie, Tom Boles, Ron Arbour

2. Who (how) is the editor of the latest 'Norton's Star
Atlas'(19thEd)?
   Ian Ridpath. (As far as I know he is keeping well!)

3. Who discovered Nova Cygni 1920 (now V476 Cygni)?
   William F.Denning

4. Who discovered the first asteroid and in which year?
   Guiseppe Piazzi, 1801 (Ceres)

5. Which is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere of the
sky?
   Catalogues differ between Arcturus and Vega, both being
suspected of variation. I am therefore accepting either.

6. In which constellation did the supernova of 1006 appear?
   Lupus

7. Name the comet which made the closest known approach to the
Earth and the year this happened.
   Lexell, 1770 (assuming the comet of 1491 is ignored)

8. a)When did the only observed occultation of Mercury by Venus
occur?
   1737 May 17
   b)Who observed it and from where?
   John Bevis, Greenwich Observatory

9. What is the number of the Messier object which has AL Com
as a nearby 'companion'?
   88

10.What is the more familiar name for the 'counterglow'?
   gegenschein

Three all-correct answers were received on the day the quiz
was sent out (Dec 26) which, in order of receipt, were from:
Martin Mobberley
Gareth Williams and Brian Marsden
Peter Meadows
In total just eight answers were received by 1999 Jan 1.0UT
indicating this year the quiz was probably rather difficult.

Our congratulations go to Martin for the first all correct
answer and thanks to all who participated.

Happy New Year!

Guy M Hurst