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IAUC 3123: 1977o

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                                                  Circular No. 3123
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


PERIODIC COMET SCHUSTER (1977o)
     H.-E. Schuster and R. M. West, European Southern Observatory,
provide further semiaccurate positions on Oct. 16 and 17, as shown
below.  L. D. Schmadel, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, has reported
accurate positions for eight minor planets found on E.S.O.
plates taken in early September in the course of a survey for objects
of high inclination.  Computations by the undersigned show
that one of these objects, originally discovered by Schuster, is
identical with comet 1977o.  The positions are as follows:

     1977 UT             R. A. (1950) Decl.        m2
     Sept. 5.20139     0 08 57.38   -38 50 54.4   17.5
           6.13472     0 08 11.48   -38 55 33.4
           7.28472     0 07 11.58   -39 00 53.0
     Oct. 16.08230    23 28 05.3    -35 16 34
          17.10969    23 27 24.6    -34 59 02

     Orbital elements and an ephemeris follow.  The comet would
have made a moderately close approach to Jupiter in 1958.

       T = 1978 Jan. 6.668 ET
   Peri. = 353.921                    e =   0.57397
   Node  =  50.850    1950.0          a =   3.81634 AU
   Incl. =  20.425                    n =   0.132201
       q =   1.62586 AU               P =   7.46 years

     1977 ET     R. A. (1950) Decl.     Delta     r      m2
     Sept.14     0 00.73    -39 20.8    1.081   1.982   17.1
          24    23 49.63    -39 08.8
     Oct.  4    23 38.60    -37 58.9    1.030   1.881   16.8
          14    23 29.57    -35 50.2
          24    23 24.06    -32 48.8    1.040   1.791   16.6
     Nov.  3    23 22.72    -29 06.0
          13    23 25.51    -24 53.2    1.099   1.718   16.6
          23    23 32.09    -20 20.3
     Dec.  3    23 41.87    -15 35.7    1.195   1.664   16.6

                  m2 = 14.0 + 5 log Delta + 10 log r

     A long exposure by Schuster, West, van Agt and Lindblad with
the E.S.O. 360-cm telescope on Oct. 16 shows a tail about 1' long
in ~ 30o-wide fan toward the north-northeast.


1977 October 19                (3123)              Brian G. Marsden

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