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                     THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
                                                                 Announcement No.12

                              COMET AND NOVA SECTION

COMET RUDNICKI (1966e)

This new comet was discovered on October 15 by Dr. Konrad Rudnicki, California Insti-
tute of Technology. At the time, it was a centrally condensed object with a 1' tail
at magnitude 13.5. In December, it may be seen in the south-west during the
evenings. It should be visible with small telescopes and possibly with binoculars.
The following ephemeris was taken from IAU Circular 1981:

                     1966     R.A.(1950)    Dec.        Mag.

                                h   m       °  '
                     Dec.  1  00 06.7     -11 24        9.8
                           6  23 40.1     -12 41        9.4
                          11  23 11.9     -13 47        8.9
                          16  22 42.0     -14 39        8.4
                          21  22 09.7     -15 22        7.9
                          26  21 34.0     -15 55        7.4
                          31  20 54.7     -16 20        6.9

PERIODIC COMETS DURING 1967

Of the 15 comets listed in the Handbook of the British Astronomical Association, only
four may become bright enough to be seen with telescopes under ten inches.


Comet Tuttle, 1790II = 1858I may be observed in the evening sky during the period
listed in the ephemeris.

                     Jan. 10  22 55.2      40 55       12.5
                          20  23 32.6      37 23       12.0
                          30  00 11.6      33 26       11.5
                     Feb.  9  00 51.2      29 03       11.1
                          19  01 30.4      24 13       10.6
                     Mar.  1  02 08.5      19 02       10.2
                          11  02 44.9      13 36        9.9
                          21  03 19.5      08 04        9.8
                          31  03 52.4      02 33        9.8
                     Apr. 10  04 24.2     -02 50        9.8
                          20  04 55.6     -07 59       10.2
                          30  05 27.3     -12 54       10.5
                     May  10  06 00.2     -17 33       10.9

Comet Finlay, 1886VII may be visible with 8-inch telescopes during the morning hours
this summer.
                     June 29  01 39.1      05 52       12.5
                     July  9  02 25.6      10 24       12.3
                          19  03 09.9      14 25       12.1
                          29  03 54.1      17 42       12.0
                     Aug.  8  04 36.2      20 11       12.1
                          18  05 15.6      21 54       12.3

Comet and Nova Section - Announcement No.12                                      -2-


Comet Tempel (2), 1873II may be observed most of the night during the listed period.
A 6-inch telescope may pick it up.

                     May  30  18 22.8     -02 38     12.6
                     June 19  18 28.8     -04 42     11.6
                     July  9  18 30.7     -11 24     10.9
                          29  18 40.1     -22 04     10.5
                     Aug.  8  19 09.4     -32 05     10.7

Comet Encke, 1786I is the famous short period comet with a period of 3.3 years. The
return is unfavourable this year, but it may be seen with 6-inch telescopes during
August, as it nears the sun.   It will, be in the morning sky.

                     Aug.  8  05 49.0       31 34     12.5
                          18  06 54.0       30 43     11.1
                          28  08 12.9       26 56      9.6


COMET SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN (I), 1925II

This comet is normal]y about magnitude 18 and well beyond the reach of amateur tele-
scopes, However, it is subject to sudden temporary increases in brightness, and at
times may be brighter than magnitude U. Amateurs with telescopes over 6-inches may
wish to watch for such increases and the following ephemeris is included.

                     Nov. 21  11 17.0      01 06
                     Jan. 10  11 23.4     -00 26
                     Mar.  1  11 10.7      00 13
                     Apr. 20  10 52.5      01 46
                     June  9  10 52.6      01 56

Opposition is about March 7. This comet is in a near-circular orbit (eccentricity
0.14) and although it is not far from aphelion at the present time, the distance from
the sun is decreasing.



Centres of the Society are asked to make this announcement known to interested members.
Please report the first observation of each comet as soon as possible.


Copies of the instruction forts are available upon request.


                                                     Jim Low, National Co-ordinator,
                                                     Comet and Nova Section
                                         Standing Committee on Observational Activities,
                                                     Box 172, AMF Postal Station,
                                                     Montreal International Airport,
29 November, 1966                                    Dorval, P.Q.