Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 4418: VY Aqr; Occn BY NEPTUNE; 1986n
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Circular No. 4418
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 617-495-7244/7440/7444
VY AQUARII
E. M. Leibowitz, A. Laor, T. Mazeh, and N. Brosch, Wise Observatory,
report: "VY Aqr was observed spectroscopically with the CCD
camera of the Wise Observatory on July 2.9 and 6.9 UT. On July 2
the spectrum consisted of broad Balmer lines superposed on a continuum
bluer than that of the A7 star xi Aqr. The H-alpha emission had
a full width of 1700 km/s, H-beta had an absorption profile of full
width 3500 km/s, and a central reversal emission had a full width
of 1600 km/s. The other Balmer lines were in absorption with full
width 2500 km/s. No clear signal was detected on July 6, which
implies that the object was fainter than mv = 15."
OCCULTATION BY NEPTUNE
B. Sicardy, Observatoire de Meudon, reports: "P. Bouchet, M.
Pizzarro, H. Vega, and I have observed the June 22 stellar occultation
of Neptune (No. 26 on P. Nicholson's 1987 list) using the 3.6-
m telescope of the European Southern Observatory at 2.2 microns.
Recording was made during June 22.073-22.208 and 22.260-22.323 UT.
The occultation by Neptune lasted from 3h07m00s to 3h19m25s (half-
light times). Strong spikes during immersion and emersion indicate
a small star diameter. Two secondary events were observed after
the emersion of the star. The first one, probably of instrumental
origin, occurred at 3h44m05s.6 with 0.13-s duration and 30 percent
depth. The second one occurred at 6h53m07s, with 0.5-s duration
and 15 percent depth, when the star was near Triton (1".5 apparent
separation), and would be at 349 000 km from the planet's center if
located in Triton's orbital plane (i.e., quite near Triton's orbit,
the radius of which is 354 000 km); the corresponding object would
have a 10-km width and a 0.15 optical depth. More occultation
observations are needed to confirm the reality of this last event."
COMET SORRELLS (1986n)
Total visual magnitude estimates (L = reflector): June 4.76
UT, 10.2 (J. Kobayashi, Kumamoto, Japan, 0.31-m L); 21.02, 9.5 (M.
V. Zanotta, Milan, Italy, 0.15-m L); 25.98, 10.1 (A. Boattini,
Piazzano, Italy, 0.40-m L); 26.32, 10.2 (E. Jacobson, Evansville,
MN); July 1.37, 9.8 (C. S. Morris, near Mt. Wilson, CA, 0.26-m L);
3.36, 10.2 (J. Scotti, Tucson, AZ, 0.4-m L); 7.45, 10.1 (Morris).
1987 July 10 (4418) Daniel W. E. Green
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