THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 149 1988 May 02 16.16UT. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- OPTICAL COUNTERPART FOR X-RAY NOVA? Further to the report on E-148, Martin Mobberley, Bury St Edmunds reports that he has recorded a bright object on photographs taken on 1988 May 2.01UT with the 0.36-m f5 refl. This appears to coincide with SAO 088151 whose catalogued position is: RA 20h 02m 23.5s DEC +24 47'24" (1950). The SAOC gives: mpg 8.0; mv 8.5, Sp=A0. The star is also catalogued as BD +24 3991 but is not listed in the GCVS or NSV as a variable. Martin estimates the image as nearly as bright as 16 Vul(although this star is close to the frame edge), presumably about mag 5.5 and it is recorded on four frames. It has not been confirmed visually. Patrol photographs by Martin Mobberley taken on Apr19.1UT, 21.1,and 24.1 show SAOC 088151 normal, being slightly brighter than another SAO star 088127 (8.7v) at RA 20h 01m 24.5s DEC +24 47 25" (1950). Assuming the photographic images are real, it appears that either: a) the SAO star has brightened or: b) a new object has gone into outburst in a similar position. VISUAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ATTEMPTS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. Please e-mail your results using the EXPRESS option. Preliminary Sequence: Star RA (1950) DEC Vmag 13 Vul 19h51m20s +23 56'53" 4.50 16 Vul 19 59 54 +24 47 48 5.32 S088088 19 59 37 +24 39 38 5.75 17 Vul 20 04 44 +23 28 09 5.08 S088163 20 02 49 +23 04 01 6.4 S088178 20 03 34 +22 39 12 6.9 S088138 20 01 46 +23 12 40 7.2 EDITORIAL We regret that TA for 1988 April has been delayed by a combination of postal delays and problems with the printers but hope that it will be despatched in the next few days. Guy M Hurst