Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3876: Notice; 1983n
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Circular No. 3876
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
NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS
There has recently been a noticeable increase in the number
of reports of "possible" discoveries communicated to the Central
Bureau. Contributors are advised that, while the Bureau certainly
notes such communications and checks whether a discovery has also
been reported by others or is already known (even to the extent of
verifying whether a supposed supernova may be a minor planet), it
is generally not able to make observational confirmations itself
and, in order not to overburden those few valued observers who do
frequently cooperate with the Bureau in this respect, it has had
to restrict requests for confirmation to only the most promising
reports. Observers, particularly professional astronomers, are
strongly recommended to plan their observations appropriately and
to try to follow up their own suspected discoveries, and amateur
astronomers are urged to seek the assistance directly of others
who may be able to confirm the existence and establish the nature
of what they have observed. Astrometry remains the single discipline
most in need of contributing observers, and it is particularly
desirable that enough observations are made to verify whether a
new discovery is a member of the solar system or not. If it is
not, there is also obviously an urgent need for spectroscopic
observations. Crude photometry, though perhaps of interest, is of
little value in establishing the nature of a new discovery.
PERIODIC COMET CROMMELIN (1983n)
The following three precise positions, obtained using a
micro-channel device on the 2-m reflector at Pic du Midi, have
been selected from 21 made on the same night by S. Koutchmy, P.
Laques and J. Lecacheux. The positions are geocentric.
1983 UT R.A. (1950.0) Decl.
Sept. 4.94350 20 07 26.92 +22 13 55.5
4.96399 20 07 25.44 +22 13 46.8
4.97875 20 07 24.52 +22 13 40.3
P/Crommelin has been selected by the International Halley Watch
for a dry run to test out the procedures planned for observations
of P/Halley. This test will mainly be during the week 1984 Mar.
25-31, at which time P/Crommelin will probably not be fainter than
mag 17.5 (although it may not be all that much brighter).
1983 October 5 (3876) Brian G. Marsden
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