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IAUC 3440: 1979l

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                                                  Circular No. 3440
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


COMET BRADFIELD (1979l)
     M. P. Candy, Perth Observatory, provides the following precise
positions, obtained by M. Buhagiar, J. Johnston and himself:

     1979/80 UT          R. A. (1950) Decl.
     Dec. 26.82014    16 16 12.52   -36 09 09.8
          26.82292    16 16 12.18   -36 09 15.7
          27.84201    16 14 53.44   -36 36 02.5
          28.82431    16 13 41.91   -37 02 47.7
          28.83715    16 13 40.95   -37 03 08.9
          29.83993    16 12 32.79   -37 31 30.6
          31.83316    16 10 33.81   -38 31 51.0
     Jan.  2.83819    16 08 59.11   -39 39 14.5
           3.81910    16 08 23.11   -40 15 20.5

     Candy also provides the following orbital elements, derived on
the assumption that the comet is identical with comet 1770 II and
has made one revolution since then.  D. Herald, Canberra, has also
suggested identity with comet 1770 II.  A general solution by the
undersigned indicates P = 234 +/- 100 years, so the assumption of two
revolutions since 1770 seems unlikely.  It is not absolutely clear
that the identification is correct, and the ephemeris could therefore
be substantially in error when the comet approaches the earth.

       T = 1979 Dec. 21.575 ET   Peri. = 257.48
       e = 0.9845 (assumed)      Node  = 102.50   1950.0
       q = 0.5453 AU             Incl. = 148.61

     1980 ET     R. A. (1950) Decl.     Delta     r      m1
     Jan. 10    16 08.12    -45 18.7    0.650   0.699    5.0
          12    16 09.99    -47 42.3
          14    16 13.57    -50 44.5    0.505   0.756    4.8
          16    16 20.08    -54 43.0
          18    16 32.53    -60 05.4    0.367   0.816    4.4
          20    17 00.77    -67 31.0
          22    18 37.3     -77 01.4    0.250   0.878    3.9
          24     0 06.4     -76 50.6
          26     2 14.09    -58 05.9    0.198   0.942    3.7
          28     2 48.28    -37 23.8
          30     3 03.28    -21 11.5    0.255   1.007    4.6
     Feb.  1     3 11.71    - 9 59.8
           3     3 17.20    - 2 21.2    0.372   1.072    5.7


1980 January 7                 (3440)              Brian G. Marsden

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