Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 1983: T Pyx; 1966e; THE MASS OF VESTA; NOTICE RE PRECISE POSITIONS OF COMETS
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Read IAUC 1984
Circular No. 1983
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Cable Address: SATELLITES, NEWYORK
Western Union: RAPID SATELLITE CAMBMASS
T PYXIDIS
A telegram from Mr. F. M. Bateson, Mt. John University
Observatory, reports that Albert Jones, Nelson, New Zealand, has
observed a brightening of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis.
1966 R.A. (1900) Decl. Mag.
Dec. 7 9 00.5 -31 59 12.9
Mr. Jones notes that previously the star had been invisible, thus
fainter than magnitude 13.5.
COMET RUDNICKI (1966e)
The following precise positions have been reported:
1966 UT R.A. (1950) Decl. Mag. Observer
Oct. 20.28517 2 31 37.89 + 1 12 21.3 13 van Biesbroeck
20.28934 2 31 37.46 + 1 12 18.0 "
21.91654 2 28 50.97 + 0 50 05.9 Milet
21.92831 2 28 49.52 + 0 49 51.0 "
Nov. 4.75069 1 55 22.18 - 3 01 33.2 "
4.75415 1 55 20.17 - 3 01 34.7 "
18.21076 1 07 23.60 - 7 23 07.2 9 van Biesbroeck
18.21667 1 07 22.19 - 7 23 12.9 "
20.21736 0 58 40.84 - 8 03 35.6 11 Mintz
20.23056 0 58 37.34 - 8 03 50.1 "
29.73914 0 13 14.71 -11 01 40.6 Milet
29.74538 0 13 12.45 -11 03 23.3 "
van Biesbroeck (Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Tucson). 61-inch
reflector. The Oct. 20 positions correct those on IAUC 1978.
On Nov. 18 there was a sharp mag. 14 nucleus.
Milet (Nice Observatory).
Mintz (U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington). 15-inch astrograph.
Measured on ADAMM.
An observation from the Smithsonian observing station at Island
Lagoon, Australia, on December 7.5 indicated a tail of 10'; total
mag. 8.
Dr. G. Sitarski and K. Ziolkowski, Computation Center, Polish
Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, communicate the following elements,
determined from 21 observations between October 17 and November 16.
The ephemeris is in very close agreement with that on IAUC 1981.
T = 1967 Jan. 20.8725 ET Peri. = 79.6846
e = 1.000108 Node = 75.0427 1950.0
q = 0.420088 AU Incl. = 9.0741
THE MASS OF VESTA
Dr. Hans G. Hertz, Goddard Space Flight Center, writes: "An
attempt is being made to determine the mass of the asteroid (4)
Vesta by its perturbations on the asteroid (197) Arete, which has
approached Vesta within a few hundredths of an astronomical unit
five times since its discovery in 1879. These approaches occur
every 18 years. A very preliminary analysis of 59 observations of
(197) Arete during the period 1879-1962 indicates a value of (1.17 +/-
0.10) x 10**-10 solar masses for the mass of Vesta. The indicated
uncertainty is a probable error. By the introduction of this value
the probable error of an observation was reduced from 2".24 to 1".70.
Further analysis is necessary: in particular, the places of the
comparison stars used need to be corrected for small errors and
reduced to a homogenous system. It may also be possible to add
further observations by remeasuring plates used only to determine
appoximate positions."
NOTICE REGARDING PRECISE POSITIONS OF COMETS
The Central Bureau has traditionally disseminated, via these
Circulars, precise positions of comets and unusual asteroids currently
under observation. Such positions are for the use of computers,
who in turn provide ephemerides for the benefit of the
observers. When a moderately bright comet appears, the Bureau
receives a great many precise positions, but they are not all
necessarily of value in the determination of the orbit. In the future,
we intend to limit the number of observations published. If observers
wish to make more than two observations of a comet during
any one night, they are requested to send us the two they regard to
be the most accurate. Unpublished observations will be forwarded
to the Minor Planet Center, which has agreed with IAU Commission
20 to maintain a file of comet observations.
1966 December 9 (1983) Owen Gingerich
Read IAUC 1984
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