THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 48 1987 AUG 11 18.30UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16, Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:(0256)471074.Int:+44256471074 Telex:265871(MONREF G) Quote"72:MAG60138 ATT G.HURST"in FIRST line. ------------------------------------------------------------------- POSSIBLE COMET W. Landgraf, University of Gottingen, reports his discovery of a possible comet (three images) on a plate taken with the GPO as- trograph at the European Southern Observatory on June 25.0 UT. The objectis diffuse with a stellar condensation. A more questionable single image has also been found on an earlier exposure. 1987 UT R. A. (1950) Decl. m1 June 22.06319 11 21 20.2 +12 32 47 24.99062 11 21 20.08 +12 42 44.1 14 25.00040 11 21 20.10 +12 42 46.4 V394 CORONAE AUSTRINAE S. R. Heathcote, A. Gomez, and R. E. Williams, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, telex: "Spectra obtained with the CTIO 1-m telescope on Aug. 4, 5, and 6 show broad emission from the Balmer lines, He I, and He II (468.6 nm), together with unusually strong recombination lines of N II (500.5, 567.9, and 517.8 nm). The spectra indicate that the nova was discovered past maximum and that it may be extremely rich in nitrogen." M. Suzuki reports (via H. Kosai, Tokyo Astronomical Observato- ry) that an exposure on Tri-X film (35-mm camera, no filter) taken July 29.46 UT shows the nova at mpv approximately 7. Further visual magnitude estimates: Aug. 5.56 UT, 10.4 (D. A. J. Seargent, The Entrance, N.S.W.); 6.42, 11.4 (R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring Observatory); 7.39, 11.7 (McNaught); 7.54, 12.1 (McNaught); 8.45, 12.1 (Seargent). Corrigendum: On IAUC 4428 and 4429, for V394 CORONA AUSTRINAE read V394 CORONAE AUSTRINAE NOVA HERCULIS 1987 R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring Observatory, reports the follow- ing precise position obtained from a Tri-X exposure at the Uppsala Southern Schmidt telescope on July 31.54 UT: R.A. = 18h41m26.70, +15 16'12.3 (equinox1950.0; uncertainty 0".5); the nova was then at mpv = 12.8. He has also identified a very blue star at this loca- tion on the Palomar Sky Survey exposure for 1951 July 12,and has calculated the following approximate magnitu`es from image diamet- ers: blue exposure, 17.5; red exposure, 18.5. IAUC 4430 --------- ALAN YOUNG. imately 7. Further visual magnitude estimates: Aug. 5.56 UT, 10.4 (D. A. J. Searg From: MAG60138 Posted: Tue 11-Aug-87 21:48 BST Sys 72 (19) Subject: THE ASTRONOMER URGENT THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 49 1987 Aug 11 20.00UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16, Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:(0256)471074.Int:+44256471074 Telex:265871(MONREF G) Quote"72:MAG60138 ATT G.HURST"in FIRST line. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends. Futher to E-mail 48 issued earlier this evening. I have been doing some rough calcs. on the possible new comet's present position. But an error of just one arc. sec. in dec. between the last two exps. gives a window of around almost 4 degs. With any possible errors in RA as well it would seem to be quite elusive. As yet no ephemeris has been issued so it maybe lost forever. But if anyone attempts a photograph of the possible area I would be glad to hear from them. Regards. Alan Young.