The Discovery of TT Crateris (Abstract)

Volume 46 number 2 (2018)

John Toone

17 Ashdale Road, Cressage, Shrewsbury SY5 6DT, United Kingdom; enootnhoj@btinternet.com

Abstract

(Abstract only) The discovery of TT Cra was a remarkable achievement by an amateur astronomer. Visual discoveries of dwarf novae are rare and this one at the time of the Comet Halley apparition in 1986 was much fainter than the others that were found by professional astronomers during the period 1855–1904. This presentation explains the circumstances of the discovery and the follow-up efforts by amateur astronomers to obtain its official recognition in 1989.