Circular No. 3183 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 Telex: 921428 Telephone: (617) 864-5758 1978 DA H.-E. Schuster, European Southern Observatory, reports the discovery of another fast-moving asteroidal object on exposures with the 100-cm Schmidt telescope. The precise positions for Feb. 17-20 have been measured by R. M. West. 1978 UT R. A. (1950) Decl. Mag. Feb. 17.25794 10 34 45.24 -19 55 38.0 18.28083 10 38 02.03 -19 46 43.2 ~14.5 19.31758 10 41 34.99 -19 35 36.6 20.34566 10 45 21.27 -19 22 20.4 Mar. 1.09653 11 31 44.1 -15 14 08 The following orbital elements, by B. G. Marsden, are rather similar to those of (887) Alinda and (1915) Quetzalcoat1: T = 1978 Apr. 6.033 ET Peri. = 32.407 e = 0.58537 Node = 169.861 1950.0 a = 2.47132 AU Incl. = 15.624 n = 0.253694 q = 1.02468 AU P = 3.89 years 1978 ET R. A. (1950) Decl. Delta r Mag. Mar. 1 11 31.02 -15 19.1 0.146 1.124 13.1 3 11 46.52 -13 31.5 0.133 1.114 12.9 5 12 04.63 -11 14.4 0.122 1.104 12.6 7 12 25.71 - 8 22.0 0.112 1.095 12.4 9 12 50.05 - 4 50.1 0.103 1.087 12.3 11 13 17.71 - 0 38.6 0.096 1.078 12.2 13 13 48.40 + 4 04.9 0.092 1.071 12.2 15 14 21.32 + 9 03.3 0.090 1.064 12.3 17 14 55.19 +13 53.4 0.091 1.057 12.4 19 15 28.53 +18 13.1 0.094 1.051 12.7 21 15 59.99 +21 49.5 0.099 1.046 12.9 Mag. = 16.5 + 5 log Delta + 5 log r + 0.023 (phase angle) 1977 YA (FORMERLY COMET LOVAS 1977t) Precise positions confirm the conclusion tentatively announced on IAUC 3165. Accordingly, Comet Lovas (1977t) has been given the minor-planet designation 1977 YA. 1978 March 2 (3183) Brian G. Marsden
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