From: TerryMosel@aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 21:20:09 EDT Subject: Another Nova + Asteroid Moseley Hi all, (Sorry I didn't get this out to you sooner: I was away in Dublin giving a short talk at the ATS meeting, then stayed over in Dublin & went with them to Birr on Monday where we had a great day, including a perfectly clear night, with some 'stationary' viewing through the Leviathan. I just got back at 01.30.... 1. ANOTHER NOVA IN SAGITTARIUS: 1855-22 NOVA SAGITTARII 2002 NO. 3 Discovered by: Katsumi Haseda, Aichi, Japan (IAUC No. 7975); Discovery Magnitude: 5.0 photographic (120-mm f/3.5 camera lens and Tri-X film); Discovery Date: September 20.431 UT POSITION: R.A. (2000): 19h 01m 09s.38 Decl. (2000): -22 deg 00' 05".9 +/- 0".75 Comparison star magnitudes are on AAVSO Chart(s): 'a' and 'b' scale chart for full 300 dpi images visit http://www.aavso.org/charts/SGR/N_SGR_02_3/NSGR02_3-A.GIF http://www.aavso.org/charts/SGR/N_SGR_02_3/NSGR02_3-B.JPG for web browser printable images http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkwrap.pl?path=/charts/SGR/R_SGR/RSGR-A.GIF http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkwrap.pl?path=/charts/SGR/N_SGR_02_3/NSGR02_3-B.JPG Spectra: Fe II-class shortly after maximum (IAUC No. 7975) It's still around 6th magnitude according to David Moore & others, so observe it while you can. Send any observatiuons to me, please, as well as to any official organisations. 2. I was absolutely dumbstruck when John McConnell & Mark Bailey announced at the opening IAA meeting last Wednesday that asteroid 1994YC2, discovered by Dr David Asher of Armagh Observatory at Siding Springs in Australia, has now been officially named 16693 Moseley! But the official International Astronomical Union announcement was only made on Saturday, so I couldn't really put anything in writing before then. I'm extremely honoured, and very appreciative of the fact that the name was given by David Asher, whom I know and for whom I have a very high regard. Most of you will know him, or of him, through his amazingly accurate predictions of the recent Leonid storms (with Rob McNaught). (IAA members can read of his latest prediction in the next STARDUST.) The discoverer of the asteroid has the right to choose the name, subject to IAU approval, so that means a lot to me - I understand that this was the first one of several that David discovered at Siding Springs. I'm also very grateful to John McConnell (who of course has his own - 9929), and to Prof Mark Bailey, and John McFarland, both of Armagh Observatory, who all had a hand in the process, and to them and Andy McCrea for keeping it all a secret from until the meeting! Also to Brian Marsden at the Minor Planet Centre in Harvard, who sent his own personal message too. I'm still rather overwhelmed by it all, so all I can say is 'a very big thanks'! Terry Moseley
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