THE COMET’S TALE
Newsletter of the Comet Section of the British Astronomical Association
Volume 8, No 1 (Issue 15), 2001 April
GEORGE ALCOCK REMEMBERED an appreciation by Martin Mobberley
"We will not see his like again"; whole life in the Peterborough meteor "as bright as Venus". these seven words are often used region. This single event spurred him to contact the BAA meteor section when great men die, but they director, J.P.M.Prentice, with his could not be more appropriate first serious observation. when the man in question is Manning Prentice lived at George Alcock. George was Stowmarket, a small town simply the greatest visual midway between Bury St discoverer who ever lived under Edmunds and Ipswich and, critically, some 60 miles SE of the cloudy British skies. His ten Peterborough, a useful baseline discoveries (five comets and five distance for meteor triangulation novae) surpass even the observations. Prentice invited George to join the BAA's Meteor achievements of Caroline George Alcock and Kesao Takamizawa at Herschel, who discovered eight Section and George (although not the IWCA in August 1999 [MPM] yet a full BAA member) attended comets from Britain and did not his first Meteor Section meeting have to battle against the likes of George's first big encounter with in July 1931 (aged 18), in the Honda, Seki, Ikeya, Mrkos and Astronomy was as an eight year library of Sion College. W.F. old, when he saw the large partial Denning, discoverer of five Burnham, competing with George eclipse of April 8th 1921. The from much clearer skies. As most comets and a 3rd mag nova in eclipse was annular at around Cygnus (V476 Cyg) had just died TA members will know, George 9am from NW Scotland and the and the meeting began with a also had to memorise the Sun was 86% obscured from minutes silence in memory of the northern Milky Way to eighth Peterborough. George and his great man. During the meeting, magnitude (and fainter in some schoolmates observed the eclipse George was approached by the through smoked glass. But, while regions) to make his binocular veteran ninety year old meteor George had learned much about observer Grace Cook, who let nova patrol viable. His astronomy from this experience, George know that he would take extraordinary success in this area and developed a keen interest in the place of Denning. Whether implies that, locked in his brain, the night sky in the following she was endowed with clairvoyant were thousands of star patterns, years, it was not the event which abilities or was simply a good fired his latent desire to judge of character, we will never containing maybe more than contribute observations; this was 30,000 stars, as seen through his know; however, she would surely to come some 9 years later. have been aware, via Prentice, binoculars. that the young Alcock was a meticulous observer, fully The Early Years familiar with the night sky and one who showed great promise. George was born in Peterborough on August 28th 1912 during the Continued on page 4 time of the great East Anglian flood. He died, in hospital, on Contents December 15th 2000, 88 years Comet Section contacts 2 and 109 days later, with the river George Alcock, Brian Marsden and John Section news 2 Nene once again at dangerously Alcock at the IWCA II in 1999. [MPM] Tales from the Past 3 George Alcock (cont) 4 high levels. Excluding the war On December 30th 1930, whilst Crommelin 8 years, George would spend his crossing the Peterborough town Professional Tales 10 bridge, George saw a bright Review of observations 14
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2 THE COMET’S TALE
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 3
Comet Section contacts
Director: Jonathan Shanklin, 11 City Road, CAMBRIDGE. CB1 1DP, England. Phone: (+44) (0)1223 571250 (H) or (+44) (0)1223 221400 (W) Fax: (+44) (0)1223 221279 (W) or (+44) (0) 1223 571250 (H) E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] WWW page : http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/
Assistant Director (Observations): Guy Hurst, 16 Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire. (and also Editor of RG22 4PP, England. The Astronomer magazine) Phone & Fax: (+44) (0)1256 471074 E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
CCD Advisor: Nick James, 11 Tavistock Road, CHELMSFORD, Essex. CM1 5JL, England. Phone: (+44) (0)1245 354366 E-mail: [email protected]
Photographic Advisor: Michael Hendrie, Overbury, 33 Lexden Road, West Bergholt, COLCHESTER, Essex, CO6 3BX, England Phone: (+44) (0)1206 240021
Subscription to the Section newsletter costs £5 for two years, extended to three years for members who contribute to the work of the Section in any way. Renewals should be sent to the Director and cheques made payable to the BAA. Those due to renew should receive a reminder with this mailing.
Section news from the Director
Dear Section member, discovery. He replied rather than what is actually there. commenting how communication In particular: Whilst I was away in the had changed since his first Antarctic I heard the sad news of discovery! At the time I was deep 1. The reported position angle of George Alcock's death. An in the Southern Hemisphere the tail of a binocular or fainter appreciation by Martin Mobberley summer twilight, but fortunately comet is often in significant appears elsewhere in this issue. I we were heading north and I disagreement between observers. was back in time to attend his eventually managed to glimpse There are several possibilities to memorial service in Peterborough the comet through a gap in the explain this. Some observers may Cathedral, along with several clouds. Unfortunately it only be using a star diagonal and other members of the Comet survived a short time after failing to correct for the east-west Section. At the reception perihelion and faded rapidly. I reversal caused by the reflection afterwards many of George's also observed 1999 T1 from the in the light path. Others may be sketches were on display, not just Falkland Islands and was lucky measuring the position angle with of comets, but also of churches, enough to see the green flash and respect to the horizon when they weather and wildlife, all things a display of noctilucent clouds should be measuring it with that I myself am interested in. It whilst at sea. reference to the RA/dec co- is hoped that it will be possible to ordinate frame. A final publish a book featuring these Whilst on board ship I did enter possibility is that the observer is sketches in due course. In the the remaining long period comet reporting a feature that is of meantime I can recommend observations from the 1970s, and uncertain reality, but the detail is George's biography 'Under an now all I need to do in order to given using the normal TA or English Heaven', written by Kay complete the archive of BAA ICQ coded format. Any feature Williams, which has a few of his comet observations is to include that you are unsure about should sketches in it. If you would like the observations that were sent to be reported as a remark in plain to obtain a copy, contact Kay at the ICQ in the 1980s. Also whilst language, for example: [email protected] or south I completed the bulk of the 1999T1 2001 01 28.25 Possible 3 Vandyke Road, Leighton work on the papers on the comets tail 5' long in pa 345. Buzzard, Beds LU7 8HG of 1997 and 1998. I finished these off on my return and they 2. The light curves of some Also whilst I was away, I heard are now being reviewed for comets appear highly unusual as the news that Albert Jones had publication in the BAA Journal. the magnitude of the comet gets discovered his second comet, 54 One rather disappointing aspect towards the sky limit in medium years after the first and in similar that arose from analysis of these and large apertures. Here it circumstances. I was able to observations is that one or two seems probable that a real comet email Albert from the Antarctic visual observers are reporting is not being seen at all. As the congratulating him on his what they would like to see, eye strains to see something at the limits of visibility it starts to BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 4 THE COMET’S TALE supply information of its own develop processing techniques Rae, Maciej Reszelski, David making to the brain, which is that he applied first to real time Seargent, Carlos Segarro, then interpreted as being the imagery and then to archive Giovanni Sostero and the Ageo comet and hence a magnitude imagery, which lead to the Survey Team (KenIchi Kadota estimate can be made. It is akin discovery of large numbers of sun and Seiichi Yoshida) (apologies to seeing a ghost - you can be grazing comets that had been for any errors or omissions). convinced that it is there, but it is missed by the professional Without these contributions it in reality a mirage that would not astronomers. His success has led would be impossible to produce be seen with better other amateurs to develop the the comprehensive light curves instrumentation. Again in such same systematic approach to that appear in each issue of The cases it is probably better to give scanning the images. These Comet’s Tale. the report in plain language discoveries have together rather than to code it up, for provided the foundation for a Comets under observation were: example: reappraisal of the flux of Kreutz 24P/Schaumasse, 41P/Tuttle- 1999T2 2001 01 28.25 Comet possibly group comet members and Giacobini-Kresak, 47P/Ashbrook- seen at mag 13.6 (S, HS) in 20cm f10 T scientific papers are already being Jackson, 73P/Schwassmann- x120, with coma 1.0' DC 1. written as a result. Wachmann 3, 74P/Smirnova- Chernykh, 110P/Hartley 3, 1999 The revised edition of the Section In every branch of observational K5 (LINEAR), 1999 K8 Guide to Observing Comets is astronomy it is essential to follow (LINEAR), 1999 T1 (McNaught- now with the printers and will a methodical approach to the Hartley), 1999 T2 (LINEAR), soon be available at BAA events observing process and Michael's 1999 U4 (Catalina-Skiff), 1999 or through the BAA Office. The success sets a splendid example to WJ7 (Korlevic), 1999 Y1 new edition has significant all amateur astronomers. Such (LINEAR), 2000 K2 (LINEAR), changes, including revised success does not come easy, it 2000 S1 (Skiff), 2000 W1 sections on comet discovery requires a tremendous investment (Utsunomiya-Jones), 2000 WM1 procedures, observing very bright of time and effort to acquire, (LINEAR) and 2001 A2 comets and electronic submission process and scan the many images (LINEAR). of observations. It also draws that are available. We believe attention to some of the points that his approach, diligence and There is a proposal to drop the made above. astounding success make Michael numeric suffix from periodic Oates a worthy recipient of the comets, so that for example Michael Oates has continued Steavenson Award.' 110P/Hartley 3 becomes scouring the SOHO archives and 110P/Hartley. All comets are has now discovered over 100 Since the last newsletter now uniquely identified, either by comets out of the SOHO total of observations or contributions have their periodic number or by their 299. I am very pleased to be able been received from the following year designation and the suffix to say that for this achievement BAA members: Mark Armstrong, has become superfluous. The the BAA is awarding him the Sally Beaumont, William Davies, ICQ have already implemented Steavenson prize. This award is Len Entwisle, Mark Green, this change and in future issues I the Association's recognition of Werner Hasubick, Morton may follow suit. Another change an outstanding contribution to Henderson, Nick James, Geoffrey is that periodic comets of one observational astronomy. The Johnstone, Albert Jones, Cliff apparition and period longer than citation for the award read: 'It is Meredith, Martin Mobberley, 30 years are given a C/ unusual for an amateur Michael Oates, Gabriel Oksa, designation rather than D/ or P/. astronomer to discover a comet. Jonathan Shanklin, David Storey, It is unheard of for one to David Strange, John Vetterlein As part of a scheme to revise the discover over 100 in the course of and Alex Vincent format of the BAA meetings a single year! Michael Oates programme I am planning to hold attended a meeting of the SPA at and also from: Jose Aguiar, a Section meeting on 2002 the beginning of 2000 at which Alexandre Amorim, Alexandr February 23. This will be part of Jonathan Shanklin told how he Baransky, Sandro Baroni, Nicolas a BAA Saturday meeting at had discovered three comets in Biver, Reinder Bouma, Jose Savile Row in London, with the real time SOHO imagery. Carvajal, Matyas Csukas, Rafael Section meeting from 11:00 - Michael was so enthused by this Ferrando, Stephen Getliffe, 13:00, followed by lunch at Savile that within 48 hours he had Antonio Giambersio, Massimo Row and the main BAA meeting reported a discovery of his own, Giuntoli, Bjorn Granslo, Michael in the afternoon. I will provide although the comet had in fact Jager, Andreas Kammerer, Heinz further details in the next already been reported. Nothing Kerner, Martin Lehky, Rolando newsletter. daunted he stuck to the task and Ligustri, Pepe Manteca, Michael soon made an independent Mattiazzo, Maik Meyer, Antonio Jonathan Shanklin discovery. This led him to Milani, Andrew Pearce, Stuart Tales from the Past
This section gives a few excerpts Monthly Notices proclaims the Queen, and it was noted "Some from past RAS Monthly Notices, discovery of two new planets - objection has been taken, though, and BAA Journals Sky. Egeria and Victoria. There was we believe, only by one or two some controversy over the name persons in the United States….". 150 Years Ago: Interestingly the Victoria, the Roman goddess of There were suspicions that this first page of the November 1850 victory rather than the British type of object was a different class BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 5 of planet to the classical planets the 2d of April 1851. The the Journal still recorded the and the analogy was made with observations taken by Professor discovery of new planets Natural History where living Challis confirm, in the most things were classed into families. striking manner, M. Le Verrier's 50 Years Ago: The Presidential Mr G P Bond (son of the Director prediction. address reviewed The Minor of the Cambridge (USA) Planets and even 50 years ago Observatory) discovered a 100 Years Ago: The November 'minor planet' and 'planet' were telescopic comet on August 29. Journal has a six page paper used interchangeably. Although he had detected seven describing observations of comet Interestingly the article notes as or eight previously, this was the Borrelly-Brooks (1900 O1). Few an aside that the name Pluto was first to bear his name as in every observations refer to the comet's used in America for a short time other instance a prior discovery magnitude, but most recorded tail for 433 Eros. The March meeting was recognised. The Council's details. A few observations noted that the comet section had report to the AGM noted "In included complaints of light been having a very quiet time, addition to the comets of Peterson pollution from electric arc lamps! with activity in 1950 being below and Bond, we have to record the Comet notes in the April Journal average. However a goodly part reappearance, under very include "Professor Kreutz has of the observations received were gratifying circumstances as brought out an important treatise made by Albert Jones in New regards the prediction, of the on the remarkable family of Zealand. Dr Merton gave a periodical comet of Faye. comets of 1680, 1843, 1880, 1882 formula for the limiting comet Astronomers are indebted to and 1887. This family have magnitude under average Lieutenant Stratford for directing similar orbits, and at perihelion conditions of mlim = 8.0 + 4 log a attention to this interesting body approach extremely near the Sun, [a the aperture in inches]. He by the publication of an indeed almost grazing its also noted that a 20 minute ephemeris, which enabled surface." and "The Astronomische exposure with an 8" fl f2.9 lens Professor Challis to discover and Gessellschaft has had means might record a 12m comet. At the observe the comet with the placed at its disposal by Mr A F next meeting he had to say that Northumberland telescope in Lindermann, of Sidmouth, for the within a few days of the previous November last. The elements had purpose of accelerating the work meeting four new comets had been rigorously investigated by of calculation of comet material been discovered. George Alcock M. Le Verrier from the from ancient times to the middle had submitted some interesting observations of 1843-4, and the of the nineteenth century. About drawings of Pajdusatkova [sic] perturbations due to planetary 5l. is offered for each definitive 1951a. Pajdusakova apparently attraction having been calculated orbit computed. Intending married Dr Mrkos shortly after by the same mathematician, the computers should communicate the discovery! perihelion passage was fixed for with Dr Kreutz.". Even in 1901 GEORGE ALCOCK REMEMBERED
Continued from Page 1 450 meteors per hour were visible from dark sites. The Meteor Years On December 12th 1934, George The July 1931 Meteor Section might have discovered his first meeting seemed to inspire George nova. Both he and Prentice had and marked the start of an been out observing at their extremely fruitful observing respective locations, but George partnership between himself and had turned in at 1.30am (he Prentice. The intensive meteor started a new teaching job the partnership would last twenty next day) whereas Prentice had productive years, interrupted only stayed out a while longer and, by the war years. But meteors while stretching his legs after a were not George's only interest, long observing session, he spotted he also enjoyed observing and the 1st mag Nova Herculis 1934 sketching the planets, even if (later classified as DQ Her). some BAA members were George could easily have spotted sceptical of what could be seen the newcomer himself, but it was through a small refractor. George not to be. Prentice telephoned the Comet 1948 L1 (Honda-Bernasconi). also independently discovered the RGO and the Astronomer Royal white spot on Saturn, while using and incoming BAA President, Sir With George now fully committed a friend's 4" refractor, on August Harold Spencer Jones, mentioned to meteor observing, after four 12th 1933, some 3 days after it's the discovery on the radio the years work with the BAA meteor official discovery by Will Hay. next evening. The nova took 94 section, he eventually found the However, he missed the days to fade to mag 4.3. Some 57 funds to became a fully paid up spectacular Giacobinid meteor years later, George would himself BAA member and was elected to shower of October 9th 1933; it discover a nova in Hercules! the association, in February 1936, was not predicted and he was not at the age of 23. Some 15 months outside at the time; remarkably earlier, the 11 year old Patrick his mother Jennie did observe it Moore had been elected. whilst waiting for a bus! Up to
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 6 THE COMET’S TALE
George first met his future wife, both Prentice and, from 1954, to in patterns. This does not mean Mary Green in 1936. Like Harold Ridley. he could name them all, or that he George she was a teacher, some He had been the country's most could even draw the five years his senior. Fortunately, dedicated meteor observer for constellations down to mag 5 or her extremely strict mother almost twenty years! so. It simply meant that his guaranteed that this new brain's pattern recognition centre friendship would not interfere The Comet Sweeping Years could tell if a new star was whatsoever with George's night breaking up the old pattern. time vigils! With the value of his meteor work Nevertheless, the idea of diminishing (in his eyes) George committing the Milky Way, as George continued his mammoth started looking around for other seen through binoculars, to meteor watches until his Second areas of Astronomy where he memory was "preposterous" even World War call up in December could really make a contribution. to George - it implied memorising 1940. He even managed some George was not that interested in perhaps 20,000 or 30,000 stars!! meteor watches during his RAF submitting routine observations But taking the easy way out was service! He married Mary on June that simply added to a large not an option for George...he 9th 1941 during a months leave database and may, or may not, be would search for novae as well as from the RAF. of some minor scientific use. He comets. wanted his observations to be While the marriage was a happy VERY useful and to George threw himself at the new one, Mary suffered a fall in 1958 fundamentally increase our challenge, spending hundreds of resulting in a particularly understanding of the Universe. hours per year sweeping the sky complex fracture of her (already But, in George's own words for comets and then novae. A few weak) left leg. The leg never "What could I, a single observer, other comet hunters were stealing fully repaired and she eventually with not much money, do, that comets from George in the first became virtually bedridden for the would make a difference". The few years and George learned last twenty years of her life (she answer was obvious, but would from "the ones that got away". died in October 1991). involve a mammoth effort: he The successes of Mrkos, Honda, resolved to direct his energies into Peltier, Burnham and others in Following the distraction of the discovering a comet. On the 1st the 1950s showed George that a war, George was finally returned of Jan 1953 George made his only comet could be discovered; it just to civilian life in March 1946. New Year's resolution; he would needed infinite dedication and His meteor work with Prentice embark on a 5 year comet search infinite patience! continued and he was determined with his 4" refractor, a telescope to see the next big Giacobinid he had owned, on loan from the There can be little doubt that shower, following his mother's BAA, since 1938. (In 1958, George had the wrong equipment chance observation of the 1933 without a discovery, he would for comet hunting in the early event. But he was to be thwarted resolve to carry on for another 5 years. His 4" refractor with a 1 again - while Prentice enjoyed years.) Two and a half years after degree field was not a comet clear skies on the night of October his New Year resolution, in the sweepers dream instrument. In 9th 1946 and saw a meteor storm, summer of '55, he decided he 1957 he borrowed Manning George was clouded out; sadly, he would search for novae too. This Prentice's delapidated 25x105 never did see a true meteor storm. latter challenge was a collossal binoculars and immediately undertaking, but one that George realised that he needed something In November 1947 George and fully understood. similar. The breakthrough that, Mary moved to their own home, quite possibly, changed the course in the nearby village of Farcet in of British Astronomical history, the Peterborough countryside. occurred in January 1959; They named the new house George's brother John spotted a "Antares" and it was numbered pair of similar binoculars for sale "no 55 Broadway, Farcet". With at the 1959 Boat Show in London. George to ultimately notch up 5 Edward Marcus who owned a comet and 5 nova discoveries it binocular & telescope shop close would prove to be an appropriate to Liverpool Street insisted that number! John took them back to George for a trial. After some During the early 1950s it became modifications by Marcus, George increasingly obvious to George was delighted with the and to Manning Prentice that the astronomical performance of the value of their meteor observations binoculars and 150 pounds was being eroded by the radar sterling changed hands! Not only work being carried out at Jodrell did the binoculars have wide field Bank. This, however, did not eyepieces giving a 3 degree field, stop George completing a record the eyepieces were inclined at 45 breaking Quadrantid watch on the degrees. At a stroke, George's night of Jan 3rd/4th 1951; a total Comet 1955 O1 (Honda) drawn by Alcock comet sweeping became observing time of 10 hours and 48 on 1955 August 16.9 comfortable and the field of view minutes! This was his last major increased by nine-fold! History meteor watch, though he still From his meteor work of the past was about to be made. submitted occasional reports to twenty years, George could the BAA for another 10 years to recognise about a thousand stars BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 7
After only 7 months sweeping April 1964, founded by John His first nova success came on with the new binoculars, on the Larard and Jim Muirden. George July 8th 1967 when he swept up 25th of August 1959, 3 days prior was one of the strongest Nova Delphini rising through 6th to his 47th birthday, George supporters of the magazine, right magnitude. At last, the 12 years spotted an intruder in Corona from the very start. It filled a of memorising the Milky Way Borealis. The next night, with a number of voids not then covered through binoculars had paid off; it new star atlas, he checked the by the BAA, and particularly must have been a huge relief. field again - the suspect had attractive to an observer like George now had 5 discoveries to moved one degree. George had George. Most importantly, rapid his credit: 4 comets and a nova. made his first discovery, Comet publication of observations and In the late seventies and eighties, Alcock 1959e, the first comet discoveries, especially of comets US observers Peter Collins and discovered from Britain since and variable stars, were its Kenneth Beckman would follow Denning's final comet discovery speciality. In today's Internet & George's example and memorise in 1894. CCD dominated world it's hard to the Milky Way stars too, but imagine a world where observers George had shown the way. After more than 6 years of had to wait months or years to see sweeping, the second Comet their observations in print. But Nova Delphini 1967, or HR Del Alcock was discovered only 5 that was quite often the case in as it became known, is still the days later (!), 2 days after his 47th the 1960s, until the Casual only nova to have been discovered birthday, on August 30th. Comet Astronomer appeared. George in Delphinus. It was the first 1959f was discovered in the was a lifelong supporter of TA British Nova to be discovered morning sky in Cancer. After a from its inception, and of Guy since Prentice discovered DQ Her 65 year dearth of British comet Hurst, who took over the in 1934. The nova rose to a peak discoveries (and not for the lack magazine in 1975. of 3.5 on 1967 December 13th, of people trying) the discovery of dropped slowly, then peaked two British comets in a week was, From 1967 to 1976 George used again at 4.2 on 1968 May 5th; an and still is, a fairytale event. his memory of the northern Milky extraordinary object. Over the years, many Way to full advantage, sweeping astronomers, including myself, up 4 novae in an 11 year period. George's second nova was have stood in the back garden of He had rivals in this field too, discovered a mere 9 months after Antares and wondered if they most notably the Japanese the first and was a much faster were standing on sacred ground. photographic patrollers. Once nova. This one was in Vulpecula again, Honda was a major rival. and was designated LV Vul. It George was a well-known But George was the only was discovered on 1968 April observer in the BAA prior to successful observer at that time 14th, rising to a peak of mag 4.8 August 1959, but he would who was searching visually. On a week later, on April 21st. always be a legend after that clear nights he had a huge Remarkably, with HR Del on the month. It is sobering to speculate advantage over the rise to it's final fourth magnitude as to what might have happened photographers. Bright novae peak, there were two British if August 1959 had been a really would be spotted almost instantly naked eye novae, only 15 degrees cloudy month. George's third by him; there was no additional apart, in the April 1968 dawn Comet was discovered in March hassle of developing films, sky!! George has often stated that 1963; how long would George mounting negatives and stereo the sight of those two novae have carried on without a merging or blinking. He could together was "the greatest thrill of discovery - we will never know. also observe in an instant and my observing career" between cloud banks, his visual George made his fourth comet approach had much more The proximity of LV Vul to the discovery in September 1965. He flexibility than photography. bright nova of 1670 was also of would not discover his fifth for considerable importance to another 18 years; thus the 6 year George. Two years later, George period from 1959 - 1965 marked notched up his third and faintest George's golden period of comet (at mag 6.9) nova, in Scutum, discovery. V368 Scuti. Another 6 years would elapse before he bagged his The Nova Discovery Years fourth, on October 21st 1976, NQ Vul, a nova right next to the After 1965, George placed more famous Coathanger Asterism. emphasis on nova hunting; after This was an especially important all, he had a unique talent in that discovery for George as his field, he had memorised the morale was somewhat dented by northern Milky Way! During the 'missing' the 1st mag nova V1500 1970s he became increasingly Cyg on August 29th 1975, the day frustrated by the encroaching after his 63rd birthday. George skyglow from Peterborough, only missed the spectacular nova making nova hunting, not comet by a few hours and the loss nearly hunting, the natural direction in made him give up. I well which to continue. remember hearing George Comet 1956 R1 (Arend-Roland) drawn by describe his feelings towards As most TA members will be Alcock on 1957 May 2.9 Nova Cyg 1975 at a meeting of aware, The Astronomer started its the JAS (now SPA) on April 29th life as The Casual Astronomer in 1978 at the Holborn Library in BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 8 THE COMET’S TALE
London. I had walked 7 miles added to the legendary status of object (V838 Her) was one of the from Enfield to hear George (and the man. fastest fading novae of all time, Jocelyn Bell of Pulsar fame) give dropping 3 magnitudes in 2.8 a rare talk - it was well worth the Two years later, on Jan 30th days! blisters! I would not see George 1985, George made the again until the 1989 TA AGM. observation which he personally Tributes and awards considered was his tenth Even for an observer as dedicated discovery, he spotted an outburst Although V838 Her was the last as George, comet and nova of the recurrent Nova RS discovery for George he continued discoveries are generally Ophiuchi, again while observing to search the sky from indoors separated by years, not days! One from indoors. Although not a and to sketch comets, like can only marvel at the mental new nova, George had missed the Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, that stamina of the man, notching up 1967 flare-up due to driving home came along. On September 1st literally thousands of fruitless after visiting Manning Prentice. 1991 I visited 55 Broadway, hours of searching between So, although not a discovery of a Farcet with Denis Buczynski and discoveries as well as caring for new object, it was a satisfying Glyn Marsh. Denis was a man his bedridden wife and teaching success for George. George trusted and with Denis by day (up to 1977). Somehow acting as an expert interviewer I George managed to find the secured 3 hours of footage, while strength to go on, year after year George related his life story. It's and retain his cheery disposition. compulsive viewing! Five years It is simply mind-boggling! later, Kay Williams, inspired by a suggestion from Brian Marsden's The last two discoveries wife Nancy, completed her excellent and meticulous The last two discoveries of biography of George's life. The George, his fifth comet and his book, "Under an English Heaven, fifth nova must have stretched the life of George Alcock" should even his patience, occurring after be on every astronomer's discovery gaps of 7 and 8 years, bookshelf. but the stories associated with Only by reading that book and them have gone down in watching the TA video can the astronomical history. true quality of the man be George swept up Comet 1983d appreciated. (C/1983 H1) at 22h UT on 1983 May 3rd after putting his wife to Comet 1956 R1 (Arend-Roland) drawn by In this tribute I have concentrated bed. It was in Draco, already 6th Alcock on 1957 May 18.9 on the astronomical side of magnitude and 12' in diameter. George's life, but this is only a Unlike his previous 8 discoveries, His final discovery, on 1991 tiny part of the story. George was this one was made from indoors March 25th, when George was 78 an avid bird watcher, nature (!) with George kneeling on the years old, was a remarkable one watcher, weather watcher and sky floor beneath the Antares landing in many ways. Firstly, George watcher. He loved cathedral and window and using 15 x 80 had a strong feeling that he was church architecture and was binoculars. It ultimately going to be lucky that night, so forever producing the finest transpired that Araki had spotted strong in fact, that he was not at sketches of buildings, flaura, it fractionally earlier and the all surprised when he spotted the fauna, wildlife, comets and Infra-Red Astronomy Satellite 5th magnitude intruder. planets. As Richard McKim, a (IRAS) had secured images of it Secondly, he was, once again, fellow Peterborough as early as April 25th, but the observing from indoors, through a schoolteacher and astronomer team had failed to appreciate it's downstairs double glazed noted, observers generally have a true significance. George was not window, using only 10x50 good eye for fine detail or very happy that the TV report made it binoculars. Thirdly, the sensitive night vision; George had sound as if he was simply confirmation was itself, equally both. His drawings of comet tails 'checking out' the IRAS remarkable. At the time of the are in a league of their own. discovery; he would definitely discovery, 0435 UT, nautical have been happier for the comet twilight had already arrived. George was also a schoolteacher to have been named Araki- From his satellite images he knew with a difference; he was Alcock, with IRAS left out! This that Denis Buczynski in universally popular with his was the only time George had to Lancashire was clear and phoned students, many of whom kept in share a comet discovery. IRAS- him with the details. Within contact with him for decades after Araki-Alcock became the third minutes of the call, Denis was in their schooldays were over. closest comet flyby of all time, the dome and his astrograph was Unlike so many people today, after Lexell (1770) and Tempel- being slewed to the right position, George was also a modest and Tuttle (1366). It passed within 3 offsetting from Deneb, the ONLY kind man, never bragging about million miles of Earth on May star visible in the twilight sky! his colossal achievements and 11th and plunged 40 degrees in Astoundingly, Denis having no interest in broadcasting declination in one day! It was the photographed the object and his opinions; his achievements brightest comet George had secured a position. An spoke for themselves. He also discovered and the fact he'd done independent discovery was made wrote in the most exquisite it from indoors, aged 70, with by Sugano in Japan and the new "copper-plate" handwriting one hand-held 15x80 binoculars just could ever wish to see! BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 9
Buzzwords and spin had no place Pacific's "International Amateur younger brother John (who in George's life, for him actions Achievement Award" in 1981 as spotted those crucial binoculars spoke louder than words. well as 3 AAVSO plaques for all 40 years earlier at the 1959 boat of his nova discoveries. In 1992 show). George was an amateur George was showered with he was invited to be a member of astronomer's astronomer. A accolades during his life. No the elite New York Academy of discoverer who actually went out other visual observer since Sciences, which he accepted with in the cold and dark and used his Denning had discovered more pride. He was also recognised by eyes and brain to discover comets than one object from the UK. Peterborough town council at a and novae. George was rarely Only Candy, Hosty and Panther (a presentation in the Town Hall in beaten by any astronomical friend of George since the 1940s) 1997. challenge, despite the had discovered any others! He disadvantages of searching from received the MBE, for services to The last time I saw George was the cloudy skies of Britain. astronomy in 1979, and was on August 15th 1999 at the Candy stole a comet from him at awarded the BAA Goodacre International Workshop on Xmas 1960; Panther stole another Award in 1976. The RAS Cometary Astronomy II at at Xmas 1980; George lost the awarded him the Jackson-Gwilt Cambridge, just after the Total ultimate battle at Xmas 2000. medal in 1963 for his first two Solar Eclipse. Many legendary comet discoveries. figures were there including Don At the end of the TA video, Denis Machholz, Kesao Takamizawa, asks George how he would like to He was the only triple recipient of Bill Liller, Alan Hale and Brian be remembered. After a pause, the BAA Merlin medal in 1961, Marsden. But only one man got a George replies "As an observer". 1972 and 1992. George also standing ovation and that was And surely, that is how we will received the first ever George, who had come to the remember George Alcock. Astronomical Society of the meeting accompanied by his
The Ten Discoveries of George Alcock
Year Object Date found 1959 Comet 1959 Q1 (Comet Alcock 1959e) August 24 1959 Comet 1959 Q2 (Comet Alcock 1959f) August 30 1963 Comet 1963 F1 (Comet Alcock 1963b) March 1 1965 Comet 1965 S2 (Comet Alcock 1965h) September 26 1967 HR Del (=Nova Del 1967) July 8 1968 LV Vul (=Nova Vul 1968 No 1) April 15 1970 V368 Sct (=Nova Sct 1970) July 31 1976 NQ Vul (=Nova Vul 1976) October 21 1983 Comet 1983 H1 (Comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock 1983 d) May 3 1991 Nova Herculis 1991 March 25
‘The Comet Man’ A. C. D. Crommelin, B. A., D. Sc., F. R. A. S.
John Fletcher Mount Tuffley Observatory
This biography of A. C. D. grand she tells me. Sara also told who was the founder of the linen Crommelin, written in 1992 me things about his private life trade in Ulster. He was educated April, all came about after I including that of the great man’s at Marlborough College and then received a call from a most sadness when he lost his eldest went on to Trinity College interesting lady aged 84 years son and a daughter in a climbing Cambridge, and graduated in who lives in Gloucester and only accident. 1886. In 1897 he married Letitia about a five minute drive from my the daughter of Rev. Robert home and private observatory in Andrew Claude de la Cherios Noble, and had two sons and two Gloucester, England. The lady's Crommelin was born in daughters. name is Sara Crommelin who Chushendun, N. Ireland on 1865 married Peter the son of A. C. D. February 6th and died in London After graduation he went to Crommelin, the comet man. Sara on 1939 September 20th, some 9 Lancing College on the teaching tells me she and Peter are the sole months after he had been knocked staff. Then he tried his hand at relatives of this famous down by a motor cyclist almost electricity but soon gave that up. astronomer who was famed for outside his home when on his way He had always been throughout his computations of cometary to church. He was the third son his childhood keen on watching orbits. Sadly his son Peter is in a of the late Nicholas de la Cherois the sky and observing the stars nursing home at the moment and Crommelin, a descendant of and at Cambridge was a keen also Sara's own eyesight is not too Louis Crommelin, a Huguenot observer of the stars and built up BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 10 THE COMET’S TALE a reputation for his knowledge of periodic comets from the year Pons 1818 (1) were all the same astronomy. He was elected into 1935 until his death. object and he predicted that the the Royal Astronomical Society same object would return in 27.4 before leaving the University in The Memoirs of the British years, which it did. In 1948 the 1888. It was fortunate that in Astronomical Association, Vol International Astronomical Union 1891 the appointment of an XXVI, Part 2, Comet Catalogue changed the name of the comet assistant at the Royal Observatory (1925), prepared by A. C. D. from Pons-Coggia-Winnecke- in Greenwich, was authorised by Crommelin. Forbes to Crommelin. The the Admiralty. Andrew sitting in history of these many separate competition with the late E. W. At a meeting of the Astronomical discoveries goes like this. Brown secured the appointment. Union in Rome (May 1922) Crommelin’s comet, not so He joined the staff of the Royal Crommelin expressed his desire named then, had been first Observatory on 1891 May 11th. to produce a sequel to Galle's observed by one of the greatest He took his place among the Cometenbahnen to bring up to comet observers of all times, members of the regular staff date and enter improved orbits of namely Jean-Louis Pons. Prior to making routine observations with comets for the period of time sighting comet (1818 I) on 1818 the transit circle and the prior to 1893. The work was February 23rd Pons had Sheepshanks equatorial. He was carried out with the help of the discovered no less than 16 out of also put in charge of the computing section of the comet the 17 comets observed during the altazimuth instrument designed section of the British beginning of the nineteenth by Airy for observing the Moon. astronomical Society. The comet century. The 1818 comet was Observing the occultations of catalogue was later published in skilfully discovered by Pons from stars by the Moon, and comets 1925. Throughout this work he his observing site (Marseille, was put in his care. had been under great pressure at France) at +40ºN when the comet work and with very little co- was at -15º and only 54º to the Crommelin's work was extensive operation from colleagues. He Sun. It was slightly fainter than at Greenwich and he was an did however acknowledged the 7th magnitude. Pons was able to expert in all his research as both help he received by Miss Mary measure four positions of the observer and a computer. In 1911 Proctor, who copied the orbits comet but he could not determine he made an accurate given in Astronomische an orbit. The comet was determination of the Lunar Nachrichten and the bulletin rediscovered later by Coggia also parallax and prepared the Astronomique. Crommelin in Marseille and one day later by ephemerides of both the Moon included the results of Dr Cowell Winnecke in Strasbourg but very and outer planets including the and himself of the ancient returns poor conditions allowed for only path of Jupiter’s eighth satellite. of Halley's Comet. He also six days viewing. The comet of Crommelin went on many eclipse included many predicted elements Pons and Coggia-Winnecke was expeditions organized by the of periodic comets even in the not known to be the same comet B.A.A. From Brazil Crommelin case when the comet was not at that time. observed the 1919 Solar eclipse observed. For their work using a 4 inch refractor of 19 feet Crommelin and Cowell were The orbital period of the comet focus and secured some fine awarded the Lindemann Prize of had indeed remained unknown photographs, which determined the Astronomische Gesellschaft until Crommelin tackled the there was a deflection of light in and also both received a D. Sc problem in 1928. In a long series the gravitational field of the Sun degree at Oxford University. of papers Crommelin had shown beyond any question of doubt. He that Pons (1818 I), Coggia- also determined the orbits of According to the records from the Winnecke (1873 VII) and Forbes many comets and minor planets. British Astronomical Memoir, (1928 II) were three apparitions This was recorded in an early Crommelin and Cowell computed of the same comet. The 1845 and number of the Journal of the the details for the following 1901 returns were sadly missed British Astronomical Association. apparitions of comet Halley: due to poor sky conditions. BC240 from China, AD141 from When it reappeared according to Indeed for many years he was the China, AD530, AD607 from Crommelin's prediction in 1956 it director of the comet section of China, AD684 from China, was renamed after him. On this the British Astronomical AD837 from China, AD1066 apparition it returned to Association and President from China and Europe, AD1145 perihelion only four days later between 1904 and 1906 and in from China and Japan, AD1301 than his prediction. Also in 1956, the year 1937 he received the from China and Europe, AD1835 for the first time on record the Goodacre Medal. He was also a and AD1909 (first photo August comet displayed a short tail and it fellow of the Royal Astronomical 24th). Crommelin also computed was favourably positioned for Society for over fifty years and orbits for comets: Grigg - observation. It returned on served on their Council from AD1902 (J.Grigg & Crommelin), schedule again in 1984 and this 1906 to 1932. He was also was Lowe - AD1913 (M.Viljev & time again it was singled out for Secretary from 1917 to 1922 and Crommelin), Encke - AD1924 unusual attention. The became their President during the (L.Matkiewicz & Crommelin) International Halley Watch, while years 1929 and 1931. He wrote and Wolf - AD1925 (Crommelin preparing to observe the most their annual reports on minor & A.Kahrstedt). famous periodic comet of all planets and from 1916 the reports (Halley) chose Comet Crommelin on comets as well. Crommelin Crommelin was famed for for a trial in preparation for the was also the President of the computing that comet Forbes coming apparition of Halley's International Astronomical 1928 (III), comet Coggia- comet. The first visual sightings Union’s sub commission on Winnecke 1873 (VII) and comet were from France on 1983 BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 11
December 29th and of 12th On The Return Of Halleys magnitude. Only a few days later Comet" in Publikation der I wish to thank Sara and Peter De on 1984 January 3.8 it was of Astronomischen Gesellschaft, No. La Cherois Crommelin, his magnitude 10.5. It was observed 23 (1910), written with daughter in law and son for the in great detail especially in March P.H.Cowell; and also the Comet information I have received to 1984, even though the weather Catalogue, Memoirs of the British make this account of the great was poor for observing and the Astronomical Association, 26, pt. astronomer A. C. D. Crommelin comet was not a dramatically 2 (1925), continued ibid., 30,pt.1 possible. I would also like to bright object. (1932). thank H. Ridley (Comet Section, British Astronomical Association) Nevertheless the comet has been Great astronomers like and P. G. Hingley (Librarian, very useful to science and Crommelin must never be Royal Astronomical Society). indirectly contributed to the great forgotten. It is their computing Also thanks to Patrick Moore for success of the observations of work (as it was called then) that his encouragement, given to Halleys comet. All this has has paved the way to our modern myself, to delve into the history of greatly increased our knowledge of astronomy. this great astronomer's life and understanding of comets in Crommelin’s sequel to Galle's work. general (including of course Cometenbahnen certainly Comet Crommelin). One of his advanced cometry science in his most famous writings was "Essay day. Professional Tales
Many of the scientific magazines cccmenu.html Planetary Sciences Meeting in have articles about comets in Pasadena, Calif., on October 26. them and this regular feature is Astronomers Conducting Post- intended to help you find the ones Mortem on Comet LINEAR Observations early in July had you've missed. If you find others [Office of News and Information suggested the comet was growing let me know and I'll put them in Johns Hopkins University] less stable. On July 7, Weaver the next issue so that everyone and his collaborators used the can look them up. New analysis of observations of Hubble Space Telescope to study Comet LINEAR, a comet whose the comet and captured pictures Alan Fitzsimmons recently sent breakup in late July and early of a large chunk of the comet me reprints of a couple of his August made headlines breaking away and moving down papers on the CCD photometry of worldwide, has shown that the its tail, presumably being pushed distant Jupiter family comets. comet might have been starting to away by jets of gas emanating The observations show that most come apart as early as the second from its surface. These jets are of these objects are a few week of June. produced as sunlight boils ice on kilometres in radius and have no the comet directly into water more than 10% of their surfaces "The first hint of trouble for vapour. The gas jets also eject active. There are some Comet LINEAR came from small particles of dust into the exceptions: 9P/Tempel 1, ground-based observations at the coma, or atmosphere of the 81P/Wild 2 and 87P/Bus seem Lowell Observatory from June 10 comet. Radiation pressure from more active. The output of to June 12, when significant the sun then sends this dust 87P/Bus seems variable, whilst variations in the comet's streaming behind the comet to 65P/Gunn and 74P/Smirnova- brightness were first detected," form the comet's tail. Chernykh are active right round says Hal Weaver, a research their orbits. scientist in the physics and Extreme variations in the comet's astronomy at The Johns Hopkins brightness were detected by The following abstracts (some University. […which is what I optical and radio telescopes shortened further for publication) commented in the comet review in during July 20-24, and are taken from the Cambridge the last issue] astronomers observing the comet Conference Network (CCNet), over the next 12 days complained which is a scholarly electronic These variations were originally that it looked like little more than network devoted to catastrophism, attributed to rotation of the a cloud of dust. Puzzled by what but which includes much comet's nucleus, a common appeared to be a rapid information on comets. To phenomenon known to change the disintegration of the nucleus, subscribe, contact the moderator brightness of comets. But when Weaver and colleagues decided to Benny J Peiser at Weaver recently looked back at look more carefully at the comet
SOHO analyses a kamikaze both about the comet and about by designating it as Comet comet [ESA News release] the solar wind close to the Sun. C/2001 C2 (SOHO). Like most of the comets found by SOHO it The picture shows, superimposed belonged to a family of small on a LASCO visible-light image, "sungrazers" that are believed to two of the ultraviolet images be fragments of a large comet that obtained by Michael Uzzo of the broke up long ago. For C/2001 UVCS team at the Smithsonian C2 (SOHO) the encounter with Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) the Sun was fatal. The UVCS in Cambridge, Massachusetts. images show ultraviolet light They were timed about an hour from hydrogen atoms, made by apart, when the comet's head was the break-up of water vapour 2.7 and 1.6 million kilometres released from the comet by the from the Sun's surface. The Sun's heat. John Raymond of blow-up of the first image shows SAO estimates that the comet was a wide and well-defined gas tail letting off steam at about 100 more than 500 000 kilometres kilograms per second, and that long. The white ring on the the comet nucleus was only 10-20 A comet that fell into the Sun on LASCO coronagraph mask, metres wide. In large objects like 7 February was tracked by two which shields the instrument from Halley's Comet the nucleus is different instruments on the ESA- the glare of direct sunlight, measured in kilometres. At 2.7 NASA SOHO spacecraft, denotes the size and position of million kilometres out (as in the enabling scientists to characterise the visible Sun. Sebastian Hoenig first of the two UVCS images) the it quite precisely. This was just in Germany and Xing Ming Zhou comet was flying through a one of nearly 300 comets in China discovered the comet on relatively tenuous solar wind but, discovered by SOHO since 1996, 6 February in the LASCO images closer in, the density seems to thanks mainly to the privileged that are available every day to have increased almost tenfold. view of the sky around the Sun comet hunters via the Internet. This is interpreted as an effect of given by the visible-light Data from successive the comet passing out of the coronagraph LASCO. On this observations, supplied by the region of a fast solar wind into a occasion SOHO's ultraviolet LASCO team, enabled Brian slower windstream of higher coronagraph UVCS also observed Marsden at SAO to compute the density. Further analysis may the comet repeatedly. It gave comet's orbit and to make the refine all of these estimates. valuable additional information, discovery official on behalf of the International Astronomical Union Review of comet observations for 2000 October - 2001 March
The information in this report is a 1999 K5 LINEAR. Michael preliminary light curve of -0.2 + 5 synopsis of material gleaned from Mattiazzo and Andrew Pearce log d + [15] log r IAU circulars 7506 – 7606 and continued observing the 14th The Astronomer (2000 October – magnitude comet until the end of 1999 T1 McNaught-Hartley D. 2001 March). Note that the January. 32 observations give an Schleicher, Lowell Observatory, figures quoted here are rounded aperture corrected preliminary reports that he obtained eight sets off from their original published light curve of 5.3 + 5 log d + 8.8 of narrowband photometry of accuracy. Lightcurves for the log r comet C/1999 T1 on 2000 Dec. brighter comets are from 28 and 2001 Jan. 2 with the Hall observations submitted to The 1.1-m telescope at Lowell Astronomer and the Director. A Observatory, yielding the full report of the comets seen following averaged results: log during the year will be published Q(OH) = 28.67; log Q(CN) = in the Journal in due course. 26.10; log Af(rho) = 3.06 (cf. IAUC 7342). The equivalent log Q(water; vectorial) is 28.76. No significant temporal or aperture variations were observed. [IAUC 7558, 2001 January 9]
N. Biver, D. Bockelee-Morvan, and J. Crovisier, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon; D. C. Lis, California Institute of Technology; and H. Weaver, Johns Hopkins University, report: Scattered observations of 1999 "The CO J(3-2) line at 345.8 GHz K8 LINEAR continued until mid has been detected on Jan. 5.7 UT November, with observers at the Caltech Submillimeter estimating it at around 14th Observatory (CSO) with a line magnitude. 85 observations give area of 0.17 +/- 0.03 K km/s in an uncertain corrected main-beam brightness
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 16 THE COMET’S TALE temperature. During Jan. 5-7 at CH_4. The mixing ratios are then Minnesota (UM), report 7- to 23- CSO, we also detected the HCN H_2O:CO = 100:17 on Jan. 13.7, micron photometry of this comet J(3-2) line (0.19 +/-0.01 K km/s) and H_2O:CH_3OH: on Feb. 21.51 UT at the Mt. and CH_3OH lines at 307.2 (0.23 C_2H_6:CH_4 = Lemmon Observing Facility 1.52- +/- 0.02), 304.2 (0.16 +/- 0.02), 100:1.7:0.65:(<1.6) on Jan. 14.7. m telescope (+ UM bolometer + and 241.79 GHz (0.17 +/- 0.03 K A rotational temperature of 70 K IRTF narrowband 'silicate' km/s). The average production was adopted for all species on filters). No evidence for strong rates relative to water, using the both dates. Multiple lines of HCN silicate emission (cf. IAUC 7582) water-production rate from and C_2H_2 were detected on was observed at 11 microns; a Schleicher et al. (cf. IAUC 7558), Jan. 14, and quantitative analysis blackbody fit to the observed are: CO, 40 percent; CH_3OH, 5 is in progress. The CO mixing spectral energy distribution yields percent; HCN, 0.11 percent. This ratio in this comet is similar to a color temperature of 270 +/- 20 is until now the highest mixing that found for native CO in K. Observed magnitudes: [7.9 ratio of CO observed in a comet comets C/1996 B2 and C/1995 microns] = 3.19 +/- 0.25, [8.8 that is relatively close to the sun." O1, but it is much higher than microns] = 3.24 +/- 0.22, [9.8 [IAUC 7559, 2001 January 11] those found for comets C/1999 H1 microns] = 2.93 +/- 0.27, [10.3 and C/1999 S4. Abundances of microns] = 2.91 +/- 0.12, [11.7 C_2H_6 and CH_3OH are similar microns] = 1.68 +/- 0.12, [12.5 to those in comets C/1996 B2, microns] = 2.05 +/- 0.22, [18.3 C/1995 O1, and C/1999 H1." microns] = 0.42 +/- 0.23, and [IAUC 7578, 2001 February 2] [23.0 microns] = 0.62 +/- 0.30. [IAUC 7594, 2001 March 6] D. K. Lynch, R. W. Russell, and D. Kim, The Aerospace E. A. Bergin, Harvard- Corporation; and M. L. Sitko and Smithsonian Center for S. Brafford, University of Astrophysics (CfA); D. A. Cincinnati, report 3- to 14-micron Neufeld, Johns Hopkins spectroscopy of this comet on Jan. University; and S. C. Kleiner, Z. 31.62 and Feb. 1.7 UT using Wang, and G. J. Melnick, CfA, BASS at the Infrared Telescope write: "The 1(10)-1(01) transition Facility: "The spectrum on the of water vapor near 557 GHz was first night showed a silicate detected toward comet C/1999 T1 1999 T1 drawn by Gabriel Oksa on emission feature extending about by the Submillimeter Wave December 20 12 percent above the continuum Astronomy Satellite. During the defined by a blackbody fitted to periods Feb. 2.01-11.06 and M. J. Mumma, N. Dello Russo, the 8- and 13-micron points. Two 23.01-28.95 UT, the average and M. A. DiSanti, Goddard prominent emission features at integrated antenna temperatures Space Flight Center, NASA; K. 10.3 and 11.2 microns appeared were 0.58 +/- 0.02 and 0.39 +/- Magee-Sauer, Rowan University; above the silicate band, the latter 0.03 K km s**-1, respectively, R. Novak, Iona College; and A. seemingly indicative of crystalline within a 3'.3 x 4'.5 (FWHM) Conrad and F. Chaffee, W. M. olivine. The 8- to 13-micron color elliptical beam. For a spherical Keck Observatory, report: "Water temperature was 260 +/- 10 K, outflow model with an assumed and CO were detected about 10 percent above the water lifetime of 7.3 x 10**4 s simultaneously near 4.67 microns blackbody radiative equilibrium and an assumed water ortho-para on Jan. 13.7 UT in observations temperature of 235 K. The ratio of 3, the inferred total water made at the NASA Infrared magnitude at 10.5 microns was production rates (x 10**28 Telescope Facility (+ CSHELL). [N] = 3.0 +/- 0.1. On the second molecules/s) are 5.7 and 4.4, Three lines in the 1-0 band of CO night, the two prominent respectively." [IAUC 7596, 2001 (R0, R1, and P2) and two lines in emission features were absent, March 13] the nu_3-nu_2 band of H_2O although the silicate emission yielded production rates (x feature maintained its trapezoidal 10**27 molecules s**-1) of 14 for shape with breaks at 9.5 and 11.1 CO and 82 for H_2O. On Jan. microns." [IAUC 7582, 2001 14.7, C_2H_6 (nu_7, nine Q- February 13] branches), CH_3OH (nu_3 Q- branch and other lines), and OH 'prompt' emission were detected using NIRSPEC at the W. M. Keck Observatory. The water- production rate derived from OH 'prompt' emission (P12.5 1- and 1999 T1 imaged by David Strange on 2001 1+, near 3042 cm**-1) was 160 January 7.27 (calculated using g-factors from comet C/1999 H1), and other I was able to observe the comet production rates were 2.7 for from the Falkland Islands on CH_3OH and 1.1 for C_2H_6. A November 19 and 20. A gusty residual 2-sigma signal was seen 1999 T1 imaged by Martin Mobberley on wind and ever brightening sky at the expected position of CH_4 2000 December 31.23 made observation difficult, R0 (nu_3 band), and this is however I located the 8th formally consistent with a 3- C. E. Woodward, J. E. Lyke, and magnitude comet in my short sigma upper limit of 2.5 for R. D. Gehrz, University of focus 90mm refractor, noting a BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 17 distinct central condensation in 4' diameter coma. I viewed it again from the UK on January 23.20 when it was an easy binocular object at 7.9. An observation in bright moonlight on February 12.09 put it at 8.2 in 20x80B. By early March it had become much more diffuse and was around 9th magnitude, fading to 10th magnitude by the end of the month.
1999 U4 Catalina-Skiff. Visual Martin Mobberley imaged Comet observers estimated the comet at 24P/Schaumasse on February 13 around 14th magnitude in and estimates the CCD magnitude November and December. as around 15 - 16. I observed on February 14.8 with the 34 observations give a corrected Northumberland refractor and preliminary light curve of -1.3 + 5 immediately saw a diffuse object log d + 14.1 log r in the expected position, which I estimated at 13.6. This is rather brighter than the CCD magnitude and will need further confirmation. A further observation on March 12.8 put 160 observations give an the comet at 13.2 and further uncorrected preliminary light observations show it brightening, curve of 6.2 + 5 log d + 8.8 log r but about a magnitude fainter than expected.
1999 T2 LINEAR. Observers have kept the comet under observation, with estimates around 13th magnitude.
1999 Y1 LINEAR Observations th of the 13 magnitude comet 24P/Schaumasse imaged by Martin continued until February. It is Mobberley on 2001 March 13.83 currently in solar conjunction, but Southern Hemisphere observers Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini- will be able to observe it when it Kresak. The comet appears to be emerges from the solar glare in in outburst, as indicated by the May. following visual m_1 estimates: 2000 Nov. 27.53 UT, 10.2: (A. Hale, Cloudcroft, NM, 0.41-m reflector); 28.83, 10.5 (Y. Nagai, Yamanashi, Japan, 0.32-m 1999 T2 imaged by Rolando Ligustri on 2001 February 15.14 reflector); Dec. 1.82, 10.4 (M. Tsumura, Wakayama, Japan, 84 observations give an 0.32-m reflector). [IAUC 7536, uncorrected preliminary light 2000 December 5] curve of 6.4 + 5 log d + 8.5 log r The comet appears to be continuing its rapid brightening (cf. IAUC 7536), as indicated by 1999 WJ7 P/Korlevic Pepe 1999 Y1 imaged by Geoffrey Johnson on th the following m_1 estimates: Dec. Manteca imaged the comet at 16 2000 November 26 5.82 UT, 11.1 (S. Yoshida, magnitude in March, rather Ibaraki, Japan, 0.25-m reflector; brighter than its expected 104 observations give a corrected visual); 6.52, 11.4 (A. Hale, magnitude. preliminary light curve of 5.5 + 5 Cloudcroft, New Mexico, 0.41-m reflector; visual); 15.83, 8.7 (K. log d + 7.4 log r Kadota, Ageo, Saitama, Japan, BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 18 THE COMET’S TALE
0.18-m reflector + CCD; 3' coma 6301) and an apparent new and 16' tail). [IAUC 7543, 2000 component (E). Assuming that 2000 SV74 An apparently December 15] component C (T = 2001 Jan. 27) asteroidal 18th mag object is the primary nucleus, reported by LINEAR on two components B and E are nights in September (first separated by Delta(T) = +0.27 observation on September 24.34), and +0.74 day, respectively. and published on MPS 19881 Component E was observed by K. under the designation 2000 Kadota (Ageo, Japan, 0.18-m SV_74, has been found to be reflector + CCD) on Nov. 28.84 cometary (diffuse with 16" coma UT and by M. Jaeger and 20" tail at p.a. 150 deg) by (Puchenstuben, Austria, 0.3-m M. Tichy on CCD images taken reflector + Technical Pan film) on on Oct. 19.8 UT with the 0.57-m Dec. 1.19 and 2.20 -- the latter f/5.2 reflector at Klet. [IAUC indicating that it is about 28' 7510, 2000 October 19] The tailward from, and about 1.5-2 comet could reach 14th mag fainter than, component C. magnitude in the summer. Observations by Jaeger and earlier by A. Galad and P. Koleny 2000 SO253 Anderson-LINEAR 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak imaged by (Modra, 0.6-m reflector + CCD) An apparently asteroidal 20th Rolando Ligustri on 2000 December 22.17 on Nov. 19.19 indicate that magnitude object discovered by component B is about 2.5-3 mag LINEAR on September 24.35 28 observations give a fainter than component C. Jaeger (MPS 20197, 21370; discovery preliminary light curve of 6.1 + 5 adds that component C has a 20' observation below) has been log d + 0.1148 * abs(t - T - 17.9) tail in p.a. 296 deg. Total visual found to be cometary (highly magnitude estimates (cf. IAUC condensed 5" coma and a 15" tail 7523) for component C: Nov. in p.a. 45 deg) on 300-s R-band 25.51 UT, 11.9: (A. Hale, CCD exposures taken on Nov. Cloudcroft, NM, 0.2-m reflector; 24.3 UT by C. W. Hergenrother low altitude, zodiacal light); and A. E. Gleason with the 28.84, 11.4 (S. Yoshida, Ibaraki, Steward Observatory 1.54-m Japan, 0.25-m reflector). [IAUC reflector. Additional observations 7534, 2000 December 2] In and orbital elements (T = 2001 addition to the above observations May 2.1 TT, q = 1.694 AU, i = Seiichi Yoshida and Nicolas 3.7 deg, P = 7.04 yr) are given on Biver also observed the comet at MPEC 2000-W39. [IAUC 7524, around 10th magnitude in 2000 November 25] December and January. S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports his identification of comet Visual estimates put Comet P/2000 SO_253 (cf. IAUC 7524) 110P/Hartley 3 at around 14th with P/1963 W1 = 1963 IX (cf. magnitude in November and IAUC 2013), which had been December. recorded on four Palomar A few further observations of Schmidt plates taken 1963 Nov. Comet 47P/Ashbrook-Jackson 11 observations give an 22-25. The resulting orbital were made during November and uncorrected preliminary light elements for the earlier apparition December, when the comet was th curve of m = 6.8 + 5 log d + [15] are T = 1963 Oct. 28.5 TT, q = around 13 magnitude. log r. 1.985 AU, i = 4.5 deg, P = 7.89 yr. The comet made approaches of 10 observations give an 2000 K2 LINEAR. Martin 0.10 and 0.40 AU from Jupiter in uncorrected preliminary light Lehky and Werner Hasubick 1961 Aug. and 1985 Apr., curve of m = 6.2 + 5 log d + [15] reported further observations of respectively. [IAUC 7548, 2000 log r. the 14th magnitude comet in December 23] October and November. Comet 73P/Schwassmann- 2000 T2 P/Kushida-Muramatsu Wachmann 3 A. Nakamura, 22 observations received give a S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, Kuma, Ehime, Japan, reported rather uncertain corrected reported the recovery by T. Oribe that a CCD image taken low in preliminary light curve of m = 5.1 of comet P/1993 X1 (= 1993t = the morning sky by K. Kadota + 5 log d + 15.7 log r. 1993 XIX) on CCD frames (Ageo, Saitama, 0.18-m reflector) obtained with the 1.03-m reflector on Nov. 4.84 UT shows this 2000 S1 P/Skiff. Martin Lehky at Saji Observatory on Oct. 3.72 comet unexpectedly bright at m_1 and Werner Hasubick reported and 4. The images were clearly = 13.2, with coma diameter 0'.5 the comet at 15th magnitude in cometary with coma diameter and a 0'.8 tail in p.a. 310 deg. October and November. 10". The indicated correction to [IAUC 7518, 2000 November 10] the prediction by B. G. Marsden Recent observations suggest that 2000 S4 LINEAR-Spacewatch. on MPC 31663 was Delta(T) = - three nuclear components of The IAU Committee on Small 0.04 day, but neither Nakano nor comet 73P are now visible: what Bodies Nomenclature has given Marsden was able to obtain a link appear to be components B and C the name LINEAR-Spacewatch to to the 1993-1995 data without from the observed 1995 outburst comet P/2000 S4. [IAUC 7553, dramatically systematic residuals, and splitting (IAUC 6246, 6274, 2000 December 31] particularly in declination. Oribe BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 19 later found faint images of the Nov. 1 by S. Sanchez and M. This is how the comet was comet on frames obtained on Blasco at Mallorca and by D. T. discovered: Sept. 26. C. E. Delahodde, Durig at Sewanee also showed On November 18 UT Japanese European Southern Observatory, diffuseness. MPEC 2000-V03 comet hunter Syogo Utsumoniya independently recovered the contains the available astrometry saw a possible comet in Vela, comet (as a pointlike object and orbital elements (T = 2000 very low in his southern sky. measured by A. Maury) with the Oct. 4.6 TT, i = 19.3 deg, q = Utsunomiya watched the eighth Danish 1.54-m reflector on Oct. 2.150 AU, P = 7.3 yr). [IAUC magnitude comet through his 25 8. A further orbit computation by 7515, 2000 November 1] x 150 mm binoculars for 40 Marsden indicated that it was minutes as dawn approached. possible to link the 2000 data to A/2000 VU2 An interesting During that time the comet the observations made after the asteroid 2000 VU2 = 2000 VW55 moved southeastward about 10 1994 conjunction. This was announced on MPEC 2000- minutes of arc, one third of a full- computation revealed that single- W29. This has an 18.4 year moon's diameter. Utsunomiya night candidates for the comet period with a perihelion at 3.1 passed the information onto the found by C. W. Hergenrother, AU. The circular said: Reports of International Astronomical Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, the stellar nature of 2000 VU2 Union's Central Bureau. They with the 2.3-m Steward have been received from T. B. asked a few southern hemisphere Observatory reflector at Kitt Peak Spahr on CCD images obtained observers (none in NZ!) to in Sept. and Nov. 1999 indeed on Nov. 20 UT with the 1.2-m confirm the discovery. They were belong to the comet, which Mount Hopkins reflector and C. unable to locate the comet. showed a possible 5" tail in p.a. W. Hergenrother on CCD images 270 deg on the first occasion. obtained on Nov. 23 and 24 with A week later, on Sunday morning Orbital elements satisfactorily the 1.5-m Catalina reflector. Nov. 26 NZ date, Albert Jones of linking the 49 observations [2000 November 24] Nelson found the sky had cleared. during 1994 Dec. 8-1995 June 23 He got out his 78 mm refractor and 1999 Sept. 13-2000 Oct. 8 2000 W1 Utsunomiya-Jones On with the 30x eyepiece and aimed are given on MPEC 2000-T45, November 19, S. Nakano, it at the variable star T Apodis. together with the 1999-2000 Sumoto, Japan, reported the He had intended to observe T Aps observations. [IAUC 7507, 2000 visual discovery on November two mornings earlier but "ran out October 14] 18.82 by Syogo Utsunomiya (Aso, of dark sky" before he got to it. Kumamoto; 25x150 binoculars) Just 50' northwest of the variable 2000 U5 LINEAR A 17th mag of a possible 9th magnitude comet Albert saw a hazy spot which he object with unusual motion that with coma diameter 5' moving instantly recognised as a comet. was reported as asteroidal by the rapidly southeastward in Vela. He made position and magnitude LINEAR survey on October 29.38 Attempts by several observers estimates as dawn came up and and posted on the NEO (including A. Hale, D. Seargent, phoned them to the University of Confirmation Page has been J. Biggs, T. Urata, and Canterbury's Mt John found to be cometary by other J.Kobayashi) to confirm the Observatory. We immediately observers. The object seemed object, at the request of Nakano emailed Albert's discovery diffuse with a 14" coma and 18" and the Central Bureau, were position to the IAU Bureau. tail in p.a. 170 deg on CCD unsuccessful. On November 25, images obtained by J. Ticha and A. C. Gilmore (Mount John At the Bureau Brian Marsden and M. Tichy (Klet) on Oct. 30.0 UT. University Observatory) reported Dan Green surmised that the two Images taken on Oct. 30.2 by D. the visual discovery of an fast-moving eighth magnitude A. Klinglesmith III (Socorro, apparent 8th magnitude comet by comets were one and the same NM) show slight diffuseness and Albert F. Jones (Nelson, New object. Brian fitted a parabolic a tail about 20" long in p.a. 220 Zealand, 0.078-m f/8 refractor, orbit to the two positions and deg; images by Y. Ikari 30x) while observing the variable emailed search ephemerides to a (Moriyama, Japan) also show a star T Aps at dawn on November few southern hemisphere tail in p.a. 220 deg on Oct. 30.6. 25.64; Jones reported the comet observers. (The Bureau is very J. Biggs (Perth Observatory) notes as being diffuse with coma cagey about a suspected comet that images of C/2000 U5 were diameter about 4' in morning lest an unscrupulous person larger than nearby stars and twilight. The possibility that 'discovers' it.) elongated toward the south- Jones' object might be the same as As luck would have it, Mt John southwest on Oct. 31.6. D. T. that reported by Utsunomiya was had a CCD camera on its 1m Durig (Sewanee, TN) found a tail explored by the Central Bureau, telescope. Glen Bayne was taking about 25" long in p.a. 170 deg on and a search ephemeris from direct images of Magellanic Nov. 1.4 images. [IAUC 7515, plausible parabolic orbital Cloud eclipsing binary stars as 2000 November 1] elements fitted to the November part of his PhD project. (The 18 and 25 approximate positions same CCD is in frequent use on 2000 U6 P/Tichy An 18th mag was circulated to numerous the 1m but attached to a large object found by Milos Tichy on southern-hemisphere observers. spectrograph, not available for images taken at Klet with J. Ticha Confirming CCD astrometry was direct picture taking.) Glen was and M. Kocer on Oct. 23.08, made by Gilmore with the 1.0-m happy to get pictures of the comet originally reported as asteroidal, f/7.7 reflector at Mt. John. [IAUC in the twilight. was subsequently noted to be 7526, 2000 November 28] This is diffuse on Klet images taken Albert Jones' second comet Using a 15 cm finder 'scope on during Oct. 28.9-29.2 UT; Tichy discovery; the first was discovered one of Mt John's other telescopes, also noted a 10" coma on Oct. in 1946! Alan Gilmore located the comet 29.8 images. Images obtained on in the twilight. This allowed BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 20 THE COMET’S TALE quick setting of the 1m onto the Albert described his discovery this comet has undergone a rapid comet and CCD images to be thus: fading, with R-band photometry taken. Alan measured these and On the morning of November 26, showing m_1 about 16.5 for a 1'.7 sent the results off to the IAU I was up early (as I do on clear coma on a co-added 2400-s CCD Bureau. Three hours later another mornings) observing variable exposure taken on Feb. 12.6 UT set of CCD images were obtained stars before dawn, then as I was with the Catalina 1.5-m reflector. by Glen and Alan and the futher pointing the telescope to view a No nuclear condensation was positions sent off. faint variable star south of the visible to a limiting mag of 21.0. Southern Cross and Pointers, I Earlier visual m_1 estimates: Jan. Brian Marsden was then able to noticed a fuzzy object that was 17.86, 10.1 (Y. Nagai, fit a semi-accurate orbit to the new to the region and recognising Yamanashi, Japan, 0.32-m three nights' observations and that it was a comet and not reflector); 22.88, 10.5 (K. show conclusively that the comets permanent celestial scenery like a Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, seen by Utsunomiya and Jones nebula, star cluster or galaxy, I 0.25-m reflector); 28.77, 12.0: were indeed the same object. IAU noted its position and other (M. Mattiazzo, Wallaroo, S. Circular 7526 appeared a few details. Then I phoned Alan Australia, 0.20-m reflector); hours later, announcing the Gilmore at the Mount John 30.28, 11.6 (P. M. Raymundo, discovery and designating the University Observatory (by Lake northwest of Salvador, Brazil, comet 2000 W1. Numerous CCD Tekapo) and told him about it and 0.25-m reflector). [IAUC 7586, measurements over the next four asked he if he knew about it and 2001 February 22] days allowed a more accurate its name, but he had no orbit to be calculated. This information about it so he e- Further to the report on IAUC appeared in Minor Planet mailed a message to the 7586, A. C. Gilmore reports that Electronic Circular 2000-W62 on International Central Bureau for 3-min unfiltered CCD images Nov. 30. Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) taken on Mar. 3.61 UT with the at Cambridge, Mass. USA. At University of Canterbury's Mount At 80 years old, Albert Jones is breakfast that morning Carolyn John Observatory 1-m f/7.7 the oldest person ever to discover wondered why I did not get back telescope showed only a diffuse a comet. The next nearest was to bed before bright daylight - I parabolic glow at the comet's Lewis Swift who was 79 when he replied that I had been on the expected position. The glow was found his last comet in 1899. phone to Alan about a comet brighter and about 1' across at the Albert also holds the record for asking about whether it was a 'head' end. The 'tail', in p.a. 80 the longest interval between known one. After breakfast a deg, was at least 10' long and comet discoveries. His previous message came from the CBAT widened to about 2' across at the comet, also found in a variable saying that it might be the same frame's edge. No stellar central star field, was 1946 P1 found in object that a Japanese comet condensation was found, though October 1946. hunter had seen a week anything brighter than red mag beforehand but which had not 20 should have been detected. At discovery Comet Utsunomiya- been seen again because it was [IAUC 7594, 2001 March 6] Jones was about 50 million km moving south so fast and was thus from earth, hence its rapid unconfirmed Using the Japanese Michael Mattiazzo observed it movement across the sky. positions for the comet and mine, with 7x50B on November 28.52, Perspective slows the apparent they determined that it was the estimating it at 7.0, DC4, movement as the comet moves same object to be known as diameter 5'. It displayed a faint directly away from us and on Comet 2000 W1 Utsunomiya- ion tail in 25x100B. I was in the toward the sun. The angle Jones It has quickly moved Southern Ocean on board the between the comet and the sun towards the west and is moving RRS Ernest Shackleton and made will shrink, causing the comet to north again. December 5 was the several attempts at observing the sink into the south-west evening last evening that I saw it, as it comet. These were generally twilight. Counterbalancing this, was too low in the sky and behind foiled by bright skies or cloud, but to a greater or lesser degree, is the trees the next night. Next January I successfully glimpsed it in comet's expected increase in when the comet's motion brings it 10x50B on December 6.09 when brightness as it nears the sun. So into the eastern sky before dawn, it was 6.3 and again the following nobody can predict how long the it will be much fainter as it races night. comet will remain visible. It is away to the outer reaches of the likely to have disappeared by Solar System. Over 50 years ago, The comet had a perihelion December 22 when it will be just I spent some time looking for distance of 0.3 AU, but was 19 degrees from the sun. unknown comets, and now I find intrinsically faint and was one while pointing the telescope therefore not expected to survive Comet Utsunomiya-Jones passes to a variable star ! The moral of perihelion passage. The comet closest to the sun on December the story is to keep looking and transited the SOHO LASCO C3 26.6 UT. It will remain hidden in you never know what you might field at the end of December and the sun's glare till mid January see. You just need to be lucky early January, and it was when it will start climbing up the enough to look at the right place significantly fainter than dawn sky. If it behaves like a at the right time ! By the way, I indicated by the visual light 'normal' comet then it should am told that I am the oldest curve. Michael Mattiazzo did have a total magnitude (m1) person to have discovered a make a final post perihelion around nine, visible in medium- comet. observation on 2001 January sized telescopes. 28.77 when he estimated it at -- Alan Gilmore & Pam Kilmartin C. W. Hergenrother, Lunar and 12.0 and very diffuse. Planetary Laboratory, reports that BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 21
32 observations received give a 2000 WT168 (LONEOS- Y06. [IAUC 7544, 2000 corrected preliminary light curve LINEAR) After the publication December 18] of m = 10.5 + 5 log d + 12.6 log (MPS 23043) of the initial r. observations of the apparently 2000 Y2 B. Skiff, Lowell asteroidal 17th mag object 2000 Observatory, reports the discovery WT_168 by LONEOS on of a 17th magnitude comet by the November 25.44 and LINEAR on LONEOS program on December November 27.37, linkage to 27.34. Confirming CCD images further observations (including by L. Wasserman (1.07-m Lowell prediscovery data) showed the Observatory telescope) show a orbit to be cometary, although coma diameter of about 9" and a observations did not show tail about 14" long toward the cometary activity in December southwest. [IAUC 7549, 2000 (cf. MPEC 2000-Y21). CCD December 27] The comet is in a exposures taken with the 1.5-m distant parabolic orbit and will reflector at Catalina on 2001 Feb. not get much brighter. 13.3 UT by C. W. Hergenrother, however, do show the object to be 2000 Y3 Scotti J. V. Scotti, cometary (highly condensed 9".7 Lunary and Planetary Laboratory, coma with red mag 16.3 and 8".0 reports his discovery of a 19th tail in p.a. 110 deg). magnitude comet with the 0.9-m 2000 WM1 LINEAR An Confirmation of cometary activity Spacewatch telescope on apparently asteroidal 18th mag has been obtained in CCD December 30.16. The comet object with unusual motion observations by J. Ticha and M. shows a coma diameter of 7" and reported by the LINEAR team on Tichy at Klet on Feb. 16.9 (0.57- a 0'.93 tail in p.a. 269 deg; he Dec. 16.07 was posted on the m reflector; 9" tail in p.a. 155 deg also measures m_2 = 19.7. [IAUC NEO Confirmation Page. and faint asymmetric coma) and 7552, 2000 December 30] Subsequent astrometry permitted by M. Hicks and B. Buratti at Additional astrometry, including a linkage to another set of Palomar on Feb. 17.2 (1.5-m prediscovery observations by observations by LINEAR on Nov. reflector; faint teardrop-shaped LINEAR on Nov. 29 and Dec. 21 16.14 and 18, designated 2000 tail about 15" long in p.a. 60 identified by B. G. Marsden, WM_1 on MPS 22800. An deg). The comet has a 7.7 year appear on MPEC 2000-Y47, observation of 2000 WM_1 by T. period, with perihelion at 1.76 together with the following orbital B. Spahr (Smithsonian AU on 2001 March 23. [IAUC elements showing this to be a Astrophysical Observatory 1.2-m 7584, 2001 February 17] It is not short-period comet. The elements reflector at Mt. Hopkins) on Dec. clear at this time what, if any, indicate an approach to within 20.148 UT shows the object to name the comet will receive. 0.05 AU of Jupiter in Sept. 1998. have a 10" coma and a broad, Further to IAUC 7552, J. V. faint tail some 10"-20" long in R. M. Stoss, Starkenburg- Scotti notes that the comet p.a. 45 deg: [IAUC 7546, 2000 Sternwarte, Heppenheim; and R. showed a 7" coma and a 1'.16 tail December 20] H. McNaught, Siding Spring in p.a. 270 deg on a Spacewatch Observatory, report the CCD image taken on Dec. 31.174 Brian Marsden notes on MPEC identification with P/2000 UT. An image obtained at Klet on 2001-D29 [2001 February 21], WT_168 of two asteroidal trails Dec. 30.79 shows a coma which gives the latest orbit for the appearing on U.K. Schmidt plates diameter of 8" and m_1 = 17.5. comet, that 'The "original" and taken by M. R. S. Hawkins and P. [IAUC 7553, 2000 December 31] "future" barycentric values of 1/a R. Standen on 1978 Mar. 6 and The comet will fade. are +0.000510 and -0.000256 (+/- 1986 Mar. 14. Astrometric 0.000041) AU**-1, respectively.' measurements by McNaught, M. 2000 Y6 SOHO 2000 Y7 SOHO The original value is greater than Read, and Stoss appear on MPEC Further to IAUC 7565, D. 10E-04, hence the comet is 2001-F17, together with orbital Hammer reports his probably not a new arrival from elements by B. G. Marsden from measurements for two comets the Oort cloud and has made at 190 observations spanning 1978- (initial observations given below) least one previous visit to the 2001 (T = 1978 Jan. 21, 1985 that appear to be two components inner solar system. Oct. 22, 1993 July 18, and 2001 of an earlier single comet. C/2000 Mar. 23). [IAUC 7600, 2001 Y6 and C/2000 Y7 were found by The comet does not reach March 20] M. Meyer and by S. Hoenig, perihelion until January 2002 respectively, in C2 coronagraph when it could reach 4th 2000 Y1 Tubbiolo R. S. data on SOHO website images. D. magnitude. It should be possible McMillan, Lunar and Planetary Biesecker provides V magnitudes to pick it up from the UK in late Laboratory, reports the discovery for C/2000 Y6: Dec. 20.463 UT, July 2001 and we should see it as by Andrew F. Tubbiolo of a faint 7.8; 20.504, 7.8; 20.580, 7.5; a naked eye object in November. 19th mag comet with the 0.9-m 20.588, 7.6; 20.604, 8.0; 20.646, It will be too far south at Spacewatch telescope at Kitt Peak 8.3. The reduced observations and perihelion, but will return to on December 16.18. The object parabolic orbital elements (T = northern skies and will be visible showed a 20"-30" tail on 2000 Dec. 20.85 TT, q = 0.025 until August 2002. Several CCD December 16 and 17. Parabolic AU, Peri. = 88-89 deg, Node = imagers already have it under orbital elements (T = 2001 229 deg, i = 87-89 deg) by B. G. observation, reporting it around th February 6, i = 138 deg, q = 7.97 Marsden, together with a search 17 magnitude. AU) are given on MPEC 2000- ephemeris for groundbased
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 22 THE COMET’S TALE observers, are given on MPEC 2000 X3 SOHO (IAUC 7562, Sarounova (Ondrejov; 0'.3 coma 2001-B08. 2001 January 14) on Jan. 16.0 UT) and by M. Tichy 2000 X4 SOHO (IAUC 7562, and M. Kocer (Klet; diffuse, 10" 2000 Y10 P/Mueller 4 S. 2001 January 14) coma on Jan. 16.9; m_1 = 17.2). Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports 2000 X5 SOHO (IAUC 7562, The object also links with one the recovery of P/1992 G3 (= 2001 January 14) observed on Jan. 3.31 and 5. 1992g = 1992 IV) by T. Oribe 2000 X6 SOHO (IAUC 7562, [IAUC 7564, 2001 January 16] (Saji Observatory) on CCD 2001 January 14) The comet will reach perihelion images taken with a 1.03-m 2000 X7 SOHO (IAUC 7562, at 0.8 AU towards the end of reflector. The comet is faint and 2001 January 14) May. of stellar appearance on 2000 2000 Y4 SOHO (IAUC 7562, Dec. 22.85 (m_2 = 20.5). The 2001 January 14) indicated correction to the orbital 2000 Y5 SOHO (IAUC 7567, elements on MPC 31663 2001 January 19) (ephemeris on MPC 41213) is 2000 Y8 SOHO (IAUC 7567, Delta(T) = +0.23 day. [IAUC 2001 January 19) 7577, 2001 February 1] 2000 Y9 SOHO (IAUC 7567, 2001 January 19) SOHO Kreutz group comets 2001 A3 SOHO (IAUC 7567, 1996 L1 SOHO (IAUC 7606, 2001 January 19) 2001 April 2) 2001 A4 SOHO (IAUC 7573, 1997 M5 SOHO (IAUC 7606, 2001 January 27) 2001 April 2) 2001 B3 SOHO (IAUC 7573, 2000 A2 SOHO (IAUC 7562, 2001 January 27) 2001 A2 observed by Pepe Manteca on 2001 January 14) 2001 C2 SOHO (IAUC 7580, March 25.8.
2000 H3 SOHO (IAUC 7572, 2001 February 7) This comet has apparently 2001 January 25) 2001 C3 SOHO (IAUC 7582, undergone a rapid brightening. 2000 H4 SOHO (IAUC 7572, 2001 February 13) M. Mattiazzo, Wallaroo, South 2001 January 25) 2001 C4 SOHO (IAUC 7582, Australia, notes that the total 2000 H5 SOHO (IAUC 7572, 2001 February 13) visual magnitude has brightened 2001 January 25) 2001 C6 SOHO (IAUC 7601, by about 2.5 mag in the 24 hr 2000 J6 SOHO (IAUC 7467, 2001 March 21) ending Mar. 30.5 UT, with the 2001 January 19) 2001 F2 SOHO (IAUC 76xx, comet becoming noticeably more 2000 J7 SOHO (IAUC 7572, 2001 April xx) condensed in the same period. 2001 January 25) were discovered with the SOHO [IAUC 7605, 2001 March 30] 2000 K7 SOHO (IAUC 7467, LASCO coronographs and have 2001 January 19) not been observed elsewhere. 2000 K8 SOHO (IAUC 7467, They were sungrazing comets of 2001 January 19) the Kreutz group and were not 2000 L6 SOHO (IAUC 7572, expected to survive perihelion. 2001 January 25) 2000 T1 SOHO (IAUC 7506, 2001 A1 LINEAR M. Blythe 2000 October 10) reports the discovery by LINEAR 2000 T3 SOHO (IAUC 7508, of a new comet on January 7.47. 2000 October 16) Following posting on the NEO 2000 T4 SOHO (IAUC 7508, Confirmation Page, several other 2000 October 16) CCD observers confirmed the 2000 U1 SOHO (IAUC 7514, object's cometary nature: M. 2000 November 1) Dawson (Luxembourg) found the 2000 U2 SOHO (IAUC 7514, object to be diffuse with a 9" 2000 November 1) coma on Jan. 13.0 UT; Jan. 14.2
2000 U3 SOHO (IAUC 7514, images taken by L. Kornos and P. 2000 November 1) Koleny (Modra) and by L. David Seargent reported a visual 2000 U4 SOHO (IAUC 7514, Sarounova (Ondrejov) showed observation at 13.1 on March 14, 2000 November 1) coma diameters of about 15" a little brighter than expected. It 2000 V1 SOHO (IAUC 7520, (m_1 = 16.3) and about 20" (m_1 rapidly brightened, reaching mag 2000 November 17) = 16.4), respectively; and images 8 by the end of the month. It is 2000 V2 SOHO (IAUC 7520, taken on Jan. 14.9 by J. Ticha and uncertain if this level of activity 2000 November 17) M. Tichy (Klet) showed a diffuse will be sustained, but if it is, the 2000 W2 SOHO (IAUC 7548, coma of diameter 17" and a faint comet could be 5th magnitude 2000 December 23) 30" tail in p.a. 200 deg. [IAUC when it returns to northern skies 2000 W3 SOHO (IAUC 7548, 7561, 2001 January 14] The at the beginning of July. 2000 December 23) comet will fade. 2000 W4 SOHO (IAUC 7562, 2001 B1 LINEAR M. Blythe, 2001 January 14) 2001 A2 LINEAR An apparently Lincoln Laboratory, reports the 2000 W5 SOHO (IAUC 7562, asteroidal object discovered by discovery by LINEAR of an 2001 January 14) LINEAR on January 15 and apparent 17th magnitude comet 2000 X1 SOHO (IAUC 7562, posted on the NEO Confirmation on January 22.08. Additional 2001 January 14) Page has been found to have observations have been received 2000 X2 SOHO (IAUC 7562, cometary appearance on CCD following posting on the NEO 2001 January 14) images taken by P. Pravec and L. BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2001 April 23
Confirmation Page. [IAUC 7570, 2001 C5 SOHO Michael Oates 2001 January 24] The comet is in discovered a 6th mag non Kreutz 2001 E1 SOHO Michael Oates a distant parabolic orbit which object on C2 images on February discovered a faint non Kreutz reached perihelion last September 14. The reduced observations and object on C2 images on March and it will fade. retrograde parabolic orbital 15. elements (T = 2001 Feb. 13.3 TT, 2001 B2 NEAT E. F. Helin, S. q = 0.026 AU, i = 166.3 deg) by 2001 F1 P/NEAT E. F. Helin, S. Pravdo, and K. Lawrence, Jet B. G. Marsden appear on MPEC Pravdo, and K. Lawrence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, report that 2001-D07 [2001 February 18], Propulsion Laboratory, report the their CCD images of this comet though Marsden notes "The above discovery of a mag 20 comet with taken on Jan. 24.6 and 25.6 UT retrograde orbit solution seems a faint tail about 40" long toward with the 1.2-m NEAT telescope at more problem than a direct one." the west-northwest on CCD Haleakala show a coma diameter The comet could reach an images taken with the NEAT 1.2- of about 29"; there is no elongation that would permit m reflector at Haleakala on convincing evidence for a tail, observation by large telescopes by March 24.42. Additional though some images suggest a the end of February. observations, together with orbital certain asymmetry toward the elements (T = 2001 Jan. 21, q = northwest. Additional astrometry Further to IAUC 7582, D. 4.3 AU, i = 19 deg, P = 15.4 yr) is reported on MPEC 2001-B47 Hammer reports his by B. G. Marsden, are given on [IAUC 7573, 2001 January 27] measurements for a comet found MPEC 2001-F51. The object The comet is distant, but should by M. Oates on SOHO website appears diffuse on Mar. 28.5 UT brighten a little as it does not images. C/2001 C5 was visible in CCD images taken by G. J. reach perihelion until June. both the C3 and C2 coronagraphs, Garradd, Loomberah, N.S.W. and D. Biesecker provides the (0.45-m f/5.4 reflector). CCD 2001 BB50 LINEAR-NEAT S. following post-perihelion V observations by M. Tichy and M. Pravdo, K. Lawrence, and E. magnitudes from the C2 data (the Kocer at Klet (0.57-m f/5.2 Helin, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, C3 data being poor due to reflector) on Mar. 29.0 show a reported the discovery of aN 18th vignetting): Feb. 13.854, 5.4; diffuse 10" coma. P. G. Comba, mag comet on Mar. 20 CCD 13.896, 5.0; 13.938, 5.0; 13.979, Prescott, AZ, reports that CCD images taken with the NEAT 1.2- 4.9; 14.021, 4.9; 14.064, 4.9; images taken with a 0.46-m f/4.5 m reflector at Haleakala, the 14.104, 5.3; 14.146, 5.6; 14.163, reflector on Mar. 29.3 show a tail object showing a short eastward 6.3; 14.188, 7.4. [IAUC 7585, in p.a. 285 deg. [IAUC 7604, tail, a nuclear condensation of 2001 February 20] 2001 March 29] The comet will size < 3", and a coma diameter of fade. about 10". T. B. Spahr, Minor 2001 CV8 P/LINEAR A 19th Planet Center, linked this object mag object that was reported as 2001 G1 An apparently asteroidal first with an object reported as asteroidal by LINEAR on 17th mag object discovered on asteroidal by LINEAR on Mar. 18 February 1.35, and given the CCD images taken with the (m_2 = 19.5) and then to the designation 2001 CV_8, has been LONEOS 0.59-m Schmidt LINEAR object 2001 BB_50, found by other CCD observers to telescope on April 1.20 and observed on Jan. 21 and 26 (MPS show cometary activity. M. Hicks, posted on the NEO Confirmation 25734). Following posting on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reports Page has been found by other NEO Confirmation Page, C. that nonphotometric images (with astrometric observers to be Jacques, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, imperfect tracking) obtained with cometary on their CCD images. also reported a 10" coma and m_1 the 0.61-m f/16 reflector at Table The object was reported as being = 18.6 on CCD images taken on Mountain Observatory by D. diffuse by J. Ticha, M. Tichy, and Mar. 21 (0.3-m reflector). Full Esqueda, A. Esqueda, and T. H. P. Jelinek at Klet (Apr. 1.9 and astrometry and the orbital Ha on Feb. 4 indicate this object 2.9 UT; 9" coma on Apr. 2.9) and elements appear on MPEC 2001- to be diffuse without condensation by C. E. Lopez and M. R. Cesco F26. [IAUC 7601, 2001 March but with a faint, 5" fan-shaped tail at El Leoncito (Apr. 2.2), and as 21] The comet has a perihelion toward the west. Images taken by having a 10" coma by M. Busch distance of 2.35AU and is D. T. Durig (Sewanee, TN; 0.3-m and S. Kluegl at Heppenheim, intrinsically faint. Its period is f/5.8 Schmidt- Cassegrain Germany (Apr. 1.9) and by J. 13.6 years. telescope; moonlight and tracking Broughton, Reedy Creek, problems) on Feb. 6 show the Queensland (Apr. 2.5). 2001 C1 LINEAR L. Manguso, object to be more diffuse than Additional astrometry and very Lincoln Laboratory, reports the nearby stars. Observations by J. uncertain parabolic orbital discovery of an apparent 19th Ticha and M. Tichy at Klet (0.57- elements are given on MPEC mag comet by LINEAR on m f/5.2 reflector) on Feb. 10 show 2001-G03. [IAUC 7606, 2001 February 1.48. Confirming CCD the object to be diffuse with a 9" April 2] The comet is very distant observations by G. Hug (Eskridge, coma and a faint 15" tail in p.a. and will fade. KS) reveal a condensed coma and 270 deg. Additional astrometry, a suggestion of a faint, broad tail orbital elements and an ephemeris For the latest information on in p.a. about 325 deg. [IAUC by B. G. Marsden appear on discoveries and the brightness of 7578, 2001 February 2] The MPEC 2001-C24. The elements comets see the Section www page: preliminary orbit suggests that the indicate that the comet passed http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds comet is in a distant parabolic about 0.14 AU from Jupiter in or the CBAT headlines page at orbit and will not come within Nov. 1998 and has a period of 7.8 http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/ visual range. years with perihelion at 2.12 AU. cfa/ps/Headlines.html [IAUC 7581, 2001 February 10]
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 24 THE COMET’S TALE
BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER