THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 225 1988 Dec 10  12.29UT.
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.
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LA PALMA PROJECT
Herman Mikuz, Yugoslavia telexes that SU UMa was observed in
outburst on Dec 8 at 22.15UT when the magnitude was 11.8. The
message was relayed to La Palma and Phil Charles has responded via
STARLINK confirming the outburst.
Tom Saville (73:TTI107) advises that results in this month's TA
also show a maximum on Nov 25-26 at 12.5 followed by a fade to
14.4. Other outbursts are reported at 12.2 on Nov 12-13 and a very
faint event at 13.0 on Nov 2 only.

SOVIET SPACESTATION MIR
David Moore, President Irish Astronomical Society e-mails:
"Here in Ireland the Irish Astronomical Society has a programme to
observe and publicise evening passes of the Mir space station.
Perhaps members of the email group might like notification of
favourable passes of this satellite which I have seen reach
magnitude -1?
Here are times for Dublin. Owing to the fact that Mir's orbital
inclination is 51.6 degrees it will always be travelling more or
less West to East and so the time difference from Dublin, Ireland
is the only important factor and as Mir moves at nearly 300
miles/minute it reaches the Greenwich meridian only 1 minute after
crossing that of Dublin. Times are likely to be accurate to a
couple of minutes so anyone in the British Isles will see Mir
within the same 5 minute interval anyway.

Predictions in the format:
  Date, Dir, Alt, Range,  U.T.
Dec 10,   S,  55, 440km, 17:45
Dec 11,   S,  40, 560km, 18:11
Dec 12,   S,  55, 440km, 17:02
  also,  SW,  25, 830km, 18:37
Dec 13,  SW,  35, 580km, 17:28

A PC program MIRWATCH was used to calculate these times. The latest
orbital elements (which change at least weekly) and this program
are available on the Dublin computer bulletin board DUBBS (Tel.
0001 885634 from UK 300-2400bps) - see TA E-Circular No. 150. Very
accurate predictions for anywhere in the world can be produced
using this and other material on DUBBS."

Guy M Hurst