Circular No. 6787
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html
Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only)


GRB 971214
     J. Heise and J. in 't Zand, Space Research Organization,
Utrecht; G. Spoliti, V. Torroni, and D. Ricci, BeppoSAX, Rome; L.
Piro, E. Costa, and M. Feroci, Instituto di Astrophysica Spaziale,
Rome; and F. Frontera, Instituto di Tecnologie e Studio delle
Radiazoni Extraterrestri, Bologna, report:  "The BeppoSAX Gamma Ray
Burst Monitor was triggered on Dec. 14.97272 UT.  A quick-look
analysis shows a structured gamma-ray burst lasting about 25 s with
a peak flux of 650 counts/s.  The gamma-ray burst was also detected
by the Wide Field Camera WFC1 with a peak flux of about 1 Crab.
The position from a quick-look analysis is R.A. = 11h56m30s, Decl.
= +65o12'.0 (equinox 2000.0), with an error radius of 3'.9 (99-
percent confidence).  A BeppoSAX Narrow Field follow-up observation
is in progress.  Observations at all wavelengths are urged."


PSR J0633+1746
     A. Shearer, A. Golden, and R. M. Redfern, National University
of Ireland, Galway; and G. M. Beskin, Special Astrophysical
Observatory, write:  "We observed PSR J0633+1746 (Geminga) on 1996
Jan. 12-14 with the Russian 6-m telescope (+ TRIFFID camera + MAMA
detector) in bands B (29 307 s) and V (6829 s).  We found optical
pulsations in B with magnitude 26.0 +/- 0.4 and a 3-sigma upper
limit for pulsations in V of about 25.5.  Enhanced sky brightness
limited a detection in V.  The significance of the B result using
the phase-independent Z statistic is 99.96 percent, using the
ephemeris by Mattox et al. (1996, A.Ap. Suppl. 120, C77).  The
corresponding lightcurve shows two peaks in phase with gamma-ray
and hard-x-ray data, testifying to a dominant non-thermal component
in B.  Deeper time-resolved exposures in B, V, R, and I should
confirm pulsed activity in these other wavebands, and provide
important data as regards understanding the thermal and nonthermal
components of Geminga's emission."


COMET C/1997 J2 (MEUNIER-DUPOUY)
     Visual m_1 estimates:  Nov. 17.75 UT, 11.3 (R. J. Bouma,
Groningen, The Netherlands, 0.25-m refl.); 27.11, 10.8 (C. E.
Spratt, Victoria, BC, 0.20-m refl.); Dec. 2.98, 11.7 (J. Bortle,
Stormville, NY, 0.41-m refl.); 14.72, 9.9 (M. Lehky, Hradec
Kralove, Czech Rep., 25x100 binoculars).

                      (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT
1997 December 15               (6787)            Daniel W. E. Green