THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 257 1989 Feb 06  18.55UT.
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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POSSIBLE NEW VARIABLE IN LEPUS =Q1989/13
S.R.Srinivasan, Gujrat, India, reports that he observed a magnitude
11 object on Jan 21 and 22 (at 15.30UT on each day) in the field of
RX Lep. On Jan 27 (21.00UT) the object was not seen.
From the plotted image on the BAAVSS chart, the Editor
estimates the position as:
RA 05h05.3m DEC -12 36'(1950)
The suspect is plotted approximately midway between the following
stars:
SAOC 150159 RA 05h05m05s DEC -12 33'(1950) mag 6.1v
SAOC 150166    05 05 31      -12 39        mag 6.3 variable?
(The latter star, although plotted as a comparison on the BAA
chart, is NSV 01842).
The Papadopoulos Atlas (1973 Dec 29) shows three possible
candidates:
Star 1  RA 05h05.1m DEC -12 37' (1950) mag approx 12
     2     05 05.3      -12 38                    12
     3     05 05.3      -12 35                    13
Star 3 does not appear to be present on Atlas Stellarum (1969 Dec
10) to B=14.5. The Lick Atlas may have star 3 present but there are
also several other nearby stars due to the fainter limiting
magnitude (1954 Dec 17).
No entry for the suspect has been found in GCVS, NSV, or Name Lists
published to date.
Further comments and observations welcomed.

SPECTROSCOPY OF PRE-MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
Dr.C.D.Pike, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, requests our
assistance in observing the following stars:
SV Cep; V351 Ori; V346 Ori; UX Ori; V586 Ori.
to determine the shape of the light curve.
Initially he requires examination of the field for suitable
comparisons which he will then measure to obtain reliable
magnitudes. Anyone wishing to help should e-mail the Editor.

COMET SHOEMAKER (1989e)
Herman Mikuz telexes that he has photographed this comet on 1989
Feb 1.050UT with 0.2-m f2 Baker-Schmidt Camera. The 10 min exp.
showed the comet near magnitude 13 with a tail of 25' in PA197deg.

WX CETI
This star which is on the Recurrent Objects List is reported to
have had an outburst on 1988 Nov 6 (12.5) and Nov 25 (12.9)(AAVSO).
According to the TA Catalogue, the last recorded outburst was in
1963. Are there any further observations of the Nov maximum?

Guy M Hurst