THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 385 1990 Feb 1 19.47UT Microlink: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: 94082518 Answerback: TAGUY ------------------------------------------------------------------ POSSIBLE OUTBURST OF AL COM (=Q1990/10) W.Worraker, Didcot, reports a possible outburst of AL Com (=Nova Com 1961)= Rosino's Object located RA 12h29.9m DEC+14 37 (1950). Precise details are withheld to avoid bias but the catalogued range is 13.0-20p. Confirmation is urgently needed. Rosino found the star on a plate of 1961 Nov 17 at mag 14 (IAUC 1782) and later the star was also found in outburst on a plate of 1892 Apr 26 at mpg=14.3.(Ann.d'Ast 27,298,1964). According to Variable Stars 20,277,1976 P.N.Kholopov mentions the most recent recorded outburst as 1975 Mar 8. Vogt and Bateson published a new finder in As.Ap.Suppl.48,p395 based on the Palomar Sky Survey which does not appear to show any other star very closeby to mag 20. The current TA chart (rev 830403) should be adequate for identification checks. POS VAR NGC 3587 (=Q1990/7) Various observers report no new or variable object in NGC 3587 as suggested on E383 by Miablint. Guy M Hurst