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IAUC 2592: 1973n

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                                                  Circular No. 2592
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Cable Address: SATELLITES, NEWYORK
Western Union: RAPID SATELLITE CAMBMASS


PERIODIC COMET GEHRELS 2 (1973n)
     The following precise positions have been reported:

     1973 UT             R.A. (1950) Decl.        m1    Observer
     Oct. 31.16146    1 22 06.25   +10 06 24.1          Klemola
     Nov.  1.63125    1 21 24.93   + 9 56 04.0   16     Seki
           2.25347    1 21 08.50   + 9 51 50.5          McCrosky
           3.21600    1 20 43.25   + 9 45 10.3   15.5     "

A. R. Klemola (Lick Observatory).  51-cm astrograph.
T. Seki (Geisei Station).  Comet diffuse with condensation.  Communicated
   by K. Osawa.
R. E. McCrosky (Harvard Observatory, Agassiz Station).  Measurer:
   C. Y. Shao.  20-cm astrograph on Nov. 2, 155-cm reflector on Nov.
   3.  On the latter occasion the comet's image was diffuse, with a
   small, sharp condensation or nucleus.

     As indicated on IAUC 2590, the comet is definitely a short-period
one, and it is hereby given the designation P/Gehrels 2.
(Comet 1972k is P/Gehrels 1, comet 1973d is P/Swift-Gehrels).  The
comet passed some 0.9 AU from Jupiter in 1971, and before that q
was 2.6 AU, P 8.5 years.  Elements from observations to Nov. 3 are:

     T = 1973 Nov. 30.504 ET
 Peri. = 182.969                          e =   0.40922
 Node  = 215.622      1950.0              a =   3.97518 AU
 Incl. =   6.663                          n =   0.124357
     q =   2.34847 AU                     P =   7.93 years

1973/74     R. A. (1950) Decl.     Delta      r       m1
Nov.  4     1 20.41    + 9 40.0
     14     1 17.22    + 8 38.9    1.442    2.351    15.5
     24     1 16.26    + 7 53.9
Dec.  4     1 17.85    + 7 28.2    1.596    2.349    15.7
     14     1 22.01    + 7 22.1
     24     1 28.55    + 7 34.2    1.808    2.355    16.0
Jan.  3     1 37.24    + 8 02.3
     13     1 47.80    + 8 43.2    2.054    2.369    16.3
     23     1 59.96    + 9 34.0
Feb.  2     2 13.49    +10 31.8    2.316    2.392    16.6

             m1 = 11.0 + 5 log Delta + 10 log r


1973 November 7                (2592)              Brian G. Marsden

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