Our Astronomical Column | Nature


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COMET OR NEBULOUS MINOR PLANET?—At the Konigstuhl Observatory a photograph talten on April 3 showed what seemed to be a new minor planet, which received the designation 1916 ZK. Its daily


motion was —o.6m. and + 3′, whilst its magnitude was 13.0 (Astronomische Nachrichten, 4841). Three days later, on another photograph, it presented a nebulous appearance. This was more


strongly developed by April 27 (Astronomische Nachrichten, 4843). Dr. Max Wolf's observations have been confirmed at the Babelsberg Obversatory (Astronomische Nachrichten, 4843). On April 30


the nebulosity involved a stellar nucleus. This remarkable body evidently bears a likeness to Neujmin's comet 1913c, which resembled a minor planet when first discovered, but a few days


later developed a weak cometic chevelure; and the latest, observations indicate that it is really a new comet. The position of the object on discovery was:—April 3, R.A. 12h. 52.9m.,


declination +0° 11′ on April 30, 12h. 58.9m., +2° 39.6′. The daily motion on April 27 was ‘ 0.5m. and +5′ and the magnitude was 13.3.


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