Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3043: Poss. SN IN NGC 4278; R CrB; P/SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 1; (1980) 1950 LA
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Read IAUC 3044
Circular No. 3043
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 Telex: 921428
Telephone: (617) 864-5758
POSSIBLE SUPERNOVA IN NGC 4278
W. K. Ford, Jr., and V. C. Rubin, Department of Terrestrial
Magnetism, Carnegie Institute of Washington; and B. Schaefer, Kitt
Peak National Observatory, report that on Feb. 24.2 UT they visually
observed a star of magnitude about 14-15 located 10" due north
of the nucleus of the large, emission-line E1 galaxy NGC 4278.
Available plates are all too well exposed to tell if the object is
a foreground star, and spectroscopic observations made with the
400-cm reflector under poor conditions are inconclusive. Examination
of the object by other observers is desirable.
R CORONAE BOREALIS
P. L. Collins, Harvard College Observatory; and J. Bortle,
Brooks Observatory, have independently reported that this star is
fading. Recent magnitude estimates are: Feb. 17.24 UT, 6.3
(Collins); 23.43, 6.6 (Collins); 25.53, 6.8 (J. Morgan, Prescott,
Arizona); 26.32, 7.0 (Collins); 26.42, 7.1 (Bortle).
PERIODIC COMET SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 1
The following precise positions were obtained by C. Y. Shao,
R. E. McCrosky and G. Schwartz with the 155-cm reflector at Harvard
College Observatory's Agassiz Station. Measurers: Shao and J. H.
Bulger. On 1976 Oct. 24 the comet, observed in fair-good seeing,
was completely stellar in appearance, having m2 ~ 16 (unfiltered
Kodak 127-04 emulsion, H2 sensitized). On Nov. 22 a very sharp
condensation (m2 ~ 15) was prominent in an asymmetric, basically
crescent-shaped coma; the coma extended over p.a. ~ 120o-360o, although
it was mainly between p.a. 240o and 360o, where its radius was
25"; the density of the coma seemed to be enhanced near p.a. 240o.
An exposure on Dec. 27 showed a weak condensation with some coma.
On 1977 Jan. 14, in excellent seeing but with some cirrus, the
condensation (m2 ~ 15) was surrounded by a small, circular coma. The
coma was somewhat larger (radius 10-15") on Feb. 17, the surface
brightness less than in November; in fair-good seeing m2 ~ 15.5.
1976 UT R. A. (1950) Decl.
Sept.23.37291 3 26 15.54 +29 26 49.2
Oct. 24.37352 3 15 58.99 +29 29 29.4
Nov. 19.20171 3 02 35.45 +28 44 56.7
20.09912 3 02 07.63 +28 42 46.2
22.23053 3 01 01.78 +28 37 30.4
(1980) 1950 LA
The following ephemeris, by B. G. Marsden, is from the orbital
elements in Minor Planet Circ. No. 4010:
1977/78 ET R. A. (1950) Decl. Delta r Mag.
Mar. 18 19 01.20 -20 36.7 1.707 1.700 19.1
28 19 25.05 -17 44.5
Apr. 7 19 48.85 -14 13.9 1.430 1.601 18.7
17 20 12.70 - 9 59.9
27 20 36.75 - 4 57.7 1.181 1.498 18.2
May 7 21 01.25 + 0 56.7
17 21 26.63 + 7 44.2 0.980 1.395 17.7
27 21 53.42 +15 19.7
June 6 22 22.46 +23 29.1 0.845 1.296 17.4
16 22 54.88 +31 49.1
26 23 32.12 +39 48.2 0.782 1.208 17.2
July 6 0 15.95 +46 52.5
16 1 07.76 +52 30.7 0.772 1.138 17.1
26 2 07.24 +56 16.9
Aug. 5 3 11.04 +57 56.9 0.783 1.095 17.1
15 4 13.12 +57 34.6
25 5 08.04 +55 29.6 0.786 1.087 17.1
Sept. 4 5 53.64 +52 07.3
14 6 30.20 +47 50.0 0.769 1.114 17.1
24 6 58.88 +42 52.6
Oct. 4 7 20.90 +37 23.5 0.727 1.173 17.0
14 7 37.00 +31 27.5
24 7 47.42 +25 06.4 0.669 1.254 16.8
Nov. 3 7 52.15 +18 22.2
13 7 50.88 +11 20.7 0.616 1.349 16.6
23 7 43.34 + 4 16.1
Dec. 3 7 29.83 - 2 25.7 0.600 1.451 16.4
13 7 11.54 - 8 09.5
23 6 50.97 -12 23.2 0.655 1.554 16.6
Jan. 2 6 31.28 -14 54.3
12 6 15.09 -15 52.1 0.787 1.655 17.1
22 6 03.92 -15 39.7
Feb. 1 5 58.01 -14 42.2 0.982 1.751 17.8
11 5 56.88 -13 19.5
21 5 59.85 -11 46.3 1.217 1.842 18.4
Mar. 3 6 06.12 -10 12.2
13 6 15.05 - 8 43.1 1.474 1.925 19.0
23 6 26.09 - 7 22.9
Apr. 2 6 38.78 - 6 13.9 1.741 2.002 19.4
12 6 52.79 - 5 17.4
22 7 07.83 - 4 34.1 2.007 2.070 19.7
Mag. = 16.0 + 5 log Delta + 5 log r + 0.023 (phase angle)
1977 February 28 (3043) Brian G. Marsden
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