Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3844: EDITORIAL NOTICE; 1982j; Var STAR IN Ara
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Read IAUC 3845
Circular No. 3844
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
EDITORIAL NOTICE
Recent communications to the Central Telegram Bureau indicate
that there is some confusion concerning future IAU policy. The
following statement is issued following consultation with E.
Roemer, President of Commission 20: "Contributors to these Circulars
are advised that, although the new standard equinox 2000.0
(J2000.0) will be brought into use for some purposes as of 1984
Jan. 1, IAU Commission 20 points out that this equinox should not
immediately and automatically be used in the publication of
observations of comets and minor planets. In general, observations
should be reduced exactly as hitherto, in terms of the standard
equinox 1950.0 (B1950.0). An exception would be made for minor-
planet observations of very high precision specifically referred
to some new star catalogue that has been constructed with
consideration of the new constant of precession, new theory of
nutation, and changed procedure for handling the elliptical-aberration
terms. The very great majority of observations are not of this
type, however, and it is not appropriate simply to adjust by
precession an observation made according to the old procedure.
Likewise, orbital elements and ephemerides should continue to be
published with reference to the 1950.0 equinox. It is anticipated
that the 2000.0 equinox will be introduced in the work of IAU
Commission 20 at some time in the future, but not until suitable
star catalogues (and charts) are widely available."
PERIODIC COMET TEMPEL 1 (1982j)
Total visual magnitude estimates: June 12.11 UT, 9.4 (J. E.
Bortle, Stormville, NY, 0.32-m reflector); 14.20, 10.4 (C. E.
Spratt, Victoria, BC, 0.20-m reflector); 28.93, 9.8 (J.-C. Merlin,
Le Creusot, France, 0.26-m reflector); July 1.11, 10.0 (Bortle);
3.90, 10.3 (Merlin); 8.10, 9.7 (Bortle); 11.11, 9.6 (Bortle);
14.08, 9.6 (C. S. Morris, Harvard, MA, 0.25-m reflector).
VARIABLE STAR IN ARA
J. Maza, Department of Astronomy, University of Chile,
confirms that a plate taken by L. E. Gonzalez on July 13 shows an
object of mag 12-13 at the indicated position (cf. IAUC 3840),
some 2-3 mag brighter than in the ESO Quick Blue Survey.
1983 July 25 (3844) Brian G. Marsden
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