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              THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
         THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR OBSERVATIONAL ACTIVITIES

                     THE COMET AND NOVA SECTION

                        THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
                            for 1965

1. SEARCHES FOR COMETS AND NOVAE:
       During 1965, 16 observers made 1943 searches of 56 areas, a decrease
from the previous two years.  Four Centres and one unattached member were
represented.  No discovery was reported by members of this section, during
the past year.

2.  OBSERVATIONS OF COMETS AND NOVAE:
       Reports were received on the following comets:  Ikeya-Seki 1965f.
Twelve members reported a total of 24 observations, plus summaries of
others.  A summary of magnitude estimates is on Bulletin #7.
       Mr. H.N.A. Maclean of the Niagara Falls Centre reported 13
observations of Nova Herculis, 1963 during 1965.  It faded from about
magnitude 12.2 to 14.0 during the year.

3.  BULLETINS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
       One Bulletin (#6) and two Announcements (#10 and 11) were mailed during
1965.

4.  SUMMARY
       As usual, the National Coordinator of this section finds it difficult
to persuade members to report observations of comets.
       There seems to be a fall-off of interest in searching for Comets and
Novae, but the Coordinator was pleased with the interest in observing
Comet Ikeya-Seki.  It was visible only in the morning sky, and although
it was very bright for one day, it was within a few degrees of the sun.




April 17, 1967                               Respectfully submitted,



Box 172, AMF Postal Station                  Jim Low, National Coordinator
Montreal International Airport               Comet and Nova Section
Dorval, P.Q.                                 S.C.O.A., R.A.S.C.