------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2384 2007 Oct 12 15.20UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET C/2007 F1 (LONEOS) This comet may become unexpectedly bright judging from a report received from Bjorn Granslo of Norway who made it magnitude 6.9 on Oct 7. On Oct 9 I glimpsed it at about magnitude 6.6 but extremely low in the north just as twilight was ending. It will remain badly placed but may brighten to mag 3-4 and will move closer to Arcturus which will be a useful signpost. Do not observe until the sun has set! Useful maps prepared by Reinder Bouma of The Netherlands, are available at: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro/ Ephemeris (from the Central Bureau): Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. m1 2007 10 12 12 58.53 +24 59.7 1.109 0.594 32.2 8.0 2007 10 13 13 04.69 +24 26.7 1.075 0.576 32.0 7.8 2007 10 14 13 11.18 +23 48.5 1.042 0.559 31.7 7.6 2007 10 15 13 18.04 +23 04.2 1.009 0.542 31.3 7.4 2007 10 16 13 25.28 +22 12.7 0.976 0.525 30.8 7.1 2007 10 17 13 32.90 +21 13.2 0.944 0.509 30.3 6.9 2007 10 18 13 40.92 +20 04.5 0.913 0.494 29.6 6.7 2007 10 19 13 49.34 +18 45.4 0.882 0.479 28.8 6.5 2007 10 20 13 58.14 +17 14.8 0.854 0.466 27.8 6.3 2007 10 21 14 07.30 +15 31.5 0.826 0.453 26.8 6.1 2007 10 22 14 16.80 +13 34.6 0.801 0.442 25.7 6.0 2007 10 23 14 26.57 +11 23.5 0.779 0.431 24.5 5.8 2007 10 24 14 36.55 +08 58.0 0.759 0.422 23.3 5.7 2007 10 25 14 46.66 +06 18.5 0.743 0.415 22.1 5.5 Perihelion: T 2007 Oct. 28.7595 From the limited number of observations for October so far received, it seems probable the predicted magnitudes are too faint. THE ASTRONOMER ANNUAL MEETING, 2007 OCTOBER 20 For all bookings received by yesterday, an admission programme has now been sent by post. Given that further unofficial industrial action today has again prevented any deliveries, at least in this area, you can print out your earlier e-mail acknowledgement and bring it with you if the programme is not received by the time of the meeting. If you did quote an Internet address but have not had even an acknowledgement message, please e-mail the editor stating the date the booking was sent, amount paid, all names in booking and how many admissions and lunches were requested. NEIL BONE Neil has had a second cancer operation this week to remove scarring tissue from his liver which was carried out at Basingstoke. I visited him today and he seemed in good spirits and hopes to be out by this coming Monday. He sends his best wishes to you all. Guy M Hurst