THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 346 1989 Sep 24 14.11UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 JANET:GMH at UK.AC.RO-GREENWICH.STARLINK 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 NOVA IN SCUTUM P.Wild, Berne University, reports his discovery of a possible nova of mag 10.5 on Sept 21 at: RA 18h46m58.11s DEC -06 14'44.8"(1950) IAUC 4861 Rob McNaught has examined a UK Schmidt J plate of 1983 June 12 and finds the following stars: RA 18h46m58.38s DEC -06 14'43.8"(1950) Mag 19 RA 18h46m58.48s -06 14 38.5 Mag 18 Although the fainter star seems the probable candidate, no suggestion of variability has been found on survey films so far examined. NO NOVA IN SAGITTARIUS (cf E344-345) Further research shows this object to be an omission from the AAVSO chart for VX Sgr. 1989 RS1 J.Alu and E.Helin report discovery of an Amor-type object on Sept 6 with subsequent prediscovery images of July 7 on photos by S.Hughes which were measured by Rob McNaught. Elements by Marsden: T= 1989 Sept. 21.933 ET Peri= 180.818 e= 0.47924 Node= 174.111 1950.0 q= 1.19970 AU Incl= 7.165 a= 2.30377 AU n=0.281868 P = 3.50 years It is currently moving south and fading below mag 16. IAUC 4857 1989 RC Alu and Helin also report a second Amor-object found on Sept 5 at mag 16. Elements by Marsden: T= 1989 Aug. 11.738 ET Peri= 180.565 e= 0.51607 Node= 139.775 1950.0 q= 1.12858 AU Incl= 7.393 a= 2.33212 AU n=0.276744 P = 3.56 years IAUC 4859 It is currently of mag 15 and at Dec -20deg. Ephemeris details on request. P/COMET WILD 2 (1989t) J.Gibson, OAO Corporation and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reports his recovery of this comet with the Palomar 1.5-m refl. on Sept 10 at m1=19.2. Indicated correction of T=+0.02 day to the orbit on MPC 12125. IAUC 4860 TELEX NUMBERS Could those with personalised telex numbers please advise me whether they have successfully received such messages from outside the UK or, if problems have occurred, supply details. Guy M Hurst