NEW COMET SEEN
(N.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 15. The most recent comet, discovered by an amateur Japanese astronomer, Minoru Honda, was seen this morning from the Tikorangi Observatory, 14 miles east of New Plymouth. An observatory staff member, Mr R. Austin, of Ohakea, saw the comet at 1.45 a.m. yesterday on a lOin telescope. Adverse weather had frustrated previous efforts to find the comet which was first reported by the Smithsonian Institution 10 days ago. Originally estimated to have a magnitude of 12, the comet is now much brighter and a director of the Tikorangi Observatory, Mr J. D. Whelan, estimates it is now magnitude
nine. There was also evidence of a slight tail. Moving in a south-easterly direction, the comet's position when sighted today was estimated at right ascension 6hr 25min, declination 23deg 25min south of the celestial equator. Mr Whelan considers the comet will get much brighter. The observatory will continue to plot its course.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 18
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159NEW COMET SEEN Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 18
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