Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3246: 4U 1837+04; COMET ON PSS; Occn OF SAO 85009 BY (2)
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Read IAUC 3247
Circular No. 3246
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-864-5758
4U 1837+04
B. Margon and K. B. Kwitter, University of California at Los
Angeles; and G. E. Parkes, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University
College, London, report the probable detection of an absorption
spectrum in the Davidsen (IAUC 2824) optical counterpart
of the x-ray burster 4U 1837+04 (Ser X-1). Image-tube scanner
spectrograms (10-A resolution) obtained with the Lick Observatory's
305-cm reflector on June 12 and covering the range 3700-6100 A show
very strong Ca II H and K as well as Na D absorption, together with
a weaker G band and possibly also Mg B. The absence of other
strong interstellar features as well as the large ratio of Ca to Na
argues against an interstellar origin for these lines. The continuum
is rather red in contrast to the previous ultraviolet excess
(IAUC 2824). As this is the first burster candidate with an absorption
spectrum, and there now seems evidence for photometric variability
as well, continued optical monitoring is urged.
COMET ON PALOMAR SKY SURVEY
R. Weinberger, University Observatory and Astronomical Institute,
Innsbruck, writes that images of a probable comet, not previously
reported, appear on the Palomar Sky Survey prints No. 471.
On the 60-min E exposure a diffuse track 0'.5 in length can be seen.
On the 10-min O exposure the object is clearly diffuse with a central
condensation of magnitude 18.5 +/- 1; the coma has a diameter of
~ 0'.3 but there is no tail. From the O exposure he determined the
position (uncertainty +/- 5") to be:
1952 UT R.A. (1950) Decl.
Feb. 1.47292 11 31 12.2 + 1 40 07
or at x = 302.6 mm and y = 291.3 mm from the lower left corner.
The E exposure was centered on Feb. 1.44511 UT, and D. W. E. Green,
Center for Astrophysics, finds the comet's daily motion to be about
14' in a direction some 30o north of west.
OCCULTATION OF SAO 85009 BY (2) PALLAS ON 1978 MAY 29
Corrigendum: IAUC 3221, line 9, for HMNO read HMNAO.
1978 July 18 (3246) Brian G. Marsden
Read IAUC 3247
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