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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2214      2006 Mar 29 16.41UT
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      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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COMET 73P/SCHWASSMANN_WACHMANN
The components H, J and L, have been observed by Peter Birtwhistle, 
Great Shefford, England, on 2006 Mar 23.1UT. Peter quotes the magnitudes 
as 18.9, 19.9 and 21.0, respectively and adds that component H had a 
coma of diameter 9" and a tail 40" long in PA 255 deg, that component J 
had a coma of diameter 9" and a tail 20" long in PA 230 deg, and that 
component L had a very diffuse coma of diameter 5" and a possible tail 
15" long in PA 245.

Peter along with E. J. Christensen, Mount Lemmon Survey independently 
reported two new components, designated M and N, estimated by Peter at 
mag 20.8 and 21.4, respectively, the former having a diameter of no more 
than 4" and no tail, and the latter having a stellar head and a faint 
tail 70" (possibly up to 90") long in p.a. 255 deg.

These results have appeared on CBET 439.

(42355) 2002 CR_46
K. S. Noll, Space Telescope Science Institute et. al., have reported on 
IAUC 8689, the detection of a binary companion to the centaur-type 
object 2002 CR_46 on Jan. 20.410-20.426UT with the Hubble Space 
Telescope. The fainter component is approximately 1.2 magnitudes fainter 
than the brighter of the two and they are separated by an angular 
distance of 0".11 +/- 0".01. The projected separation of the objects in 
the plane of the sky is about 1330km.

(60458) 2000 CM_114
K. S. Noll has also reported on the same IAUC detection of a binary 
companion to the transneptunian minor planet, 2000 CM_114 on Jan.
16.276-16.292 UT, when it was more than 41 AU from the earth.
The projected separation of the objects in the plane of the sky is about 
2200km.  The fainter component is approximately 0.5 magnitudes fainter 
than the brighter of the two.

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, 2006 MARCH 29
Reports from Albert Roberts (Winchester Student), Bill Ward (Glasgow) 
and the editor indicate the partial event was successfully drawn/imaged 
this morning. Several sunspots were noted despite proximity to solar 
minimum. No reports have so far been received from the totality area.

Guy M Hurst