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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1692      2001 Sep 19 19.55UT
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.theastronomer.org
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AGM VIDEO: URGENT APPEAL
We would like to video all, or at least a major part, of the AGM
proceedings at the meeting this coming Saturday and need a volunteer.

If anyone has the necessary equipment and is willing to undertake this
task could they please contact the editor as soon as possible.

COMET P/2001 R1 (LONEOS)
An apparently asteroidal object discovered by LONEOS and posted on the
NEO Confirmation Page has been found cometary:

     2001 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.        m1    Observer
     Sept.10.19298   21 36 46.25   -25 58 32.1          LONEOS
          10.22590   21 36 44.17   -25 58 34.8            "
          11.17999   21 35 45.43   -25 59 42.5          Dyvig
          11.19527   21 35 44.53   -25 59 43.2            "
          11.20507   21 35 43.70   -25 59 44.5   18.4   Smalley
          11.24603   21 35 41.12   -25 59 46.9   18.4     "
          11.55271   21 35 22.46   -25 59 55.4   17.3   Gilmore
          11.56196   21 35 21.85   -25 59 55.9   17.3     "

LONEOS (Lowell Observatory).  0.59-m Schmidt telescope.  Red mag
17.6.
R. Dyvig (Quinn, SD).  0.66-m reflector.  Object diffuse and
uncondensed, with slight hint of a tail to the northeast; low
altitude and haze.
K. Smalley and R. Fredrick (Louisburg, KS).  0.75-m reflector.
Coma diameter 2", elongated 5" toward in p.a. 45 deg.
A. C. Gilmore (Mt. John).  1.0-m refl.  Broad tail about 15" long
in p.a. 40 deg.

Preliminary orbital elements from the above observations:

T = 2002 Jan. 30.672 TT          Peri. =  20.216
e = 0.66247                      Node  =  35.664   2000.0
q = 1.33805 AU                   Incl. =   6.838
a =  3.96430 AU     n = 0.124869     P =   7.89 years

2001 TT     R. A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong. Phase    m1
     18    21 29.39   -26 00.4   1.150   2.026  140.0   18.6   17.4
     28    21 22.75   -25 38.4   1.154   1.950  129.4   23.4   17.2
Oct.  8    21 20.08   -24 50.6   1.170   1.876  119.6   27.6   17.1
     18    21 21.73   -23 39.8   1.194   1.804  110.6   31.1   16.9
IAUC 7713 (extract)

Guy M Hurst