THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 388 1990 Feb 16 21.10UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------ PERIODIC COMET WILD 4 (1990a) The following orbital elements by P. Wild indicate that e = 0.17, a = 4.6 AU before a close approach to Jupiter in July 1987: T = 1990 July 3.087 ET Peri. = 170.777 e = 0.40992 Node = 21.415 1950.0 q = 1.98727 AU Incl. = 3.719 a = 3.36780 AU n = 0.159472 P = 6.18 years 1990 ET R.A. (1950) Decl. Delta r m1 Feb. 18 9 12.17 +22 11.4 1.270 2.237 13.0 28 9 04.27 +22 25.9 Mar. 10 8 58.69 +22 23.7 1.305 2.174 13.0 20 8 56.25 +22 04.8 30 8 57.28 +21 30.4 1.411 2.118 13.0 Apr. 9 9 01.73 +20 42.0 19 9 09.28 +19 41.0 1.559 2.071 13.1 IAUC 4963 NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1990 No. 2 R. Williams, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, reports the discovery by W. Liller, Vina del Mar, of a nova of mag 11.2 (Kodak 2415 film) in the LMC on a PROBLICOM exposure on Feb. 14.1 UT. The following position was obtained with the 4-m CTIO reflector: R.A. = 5h10m41s.8, Decl. = -71d43'27" (equinox 1950.0). This supports Liller's suggestion that the nova is recurrent, in that it appears to be coincident with N LMC 1968 (Sievers 1970, Inf. Bull. Variable Stars No. 448). CTIO 4-m Argus spectra by M. Shara and A. Moffat show strong, broad double-peaked Balmer lines, and He I and He II 468.6 nm lines with expansion velocities of 5500 km/s. CCD photometry by L. Wells and S. Heathcote on the 0.9-m telescope gives V = 12.0, B-V = +0.16 on Feb. 15.1. It is suggested that this outburst will mimic the 1968 outburst in having a very rapid decline. IAUC 4964 SUPERNOVA 1990E IN NGC 1035 Dan Green telexes that Pennypacker et. al. have discovered a supernova of mag 16, possibly still rising, on 1990 Feb 15 and located in NGC 1035. The galaxy's position is: RA 02h37.0m DEC -08 20' (1950) in Cetus. The object is 5" west and 10" south of the nucleus. EDITORIAL ABSENCE I shall be away Sat evening Feb 17 in Mablethorpe and can be contacted on (0521) 72483. Denis Buczynski will issue e-circulars as necessary, Guy M Hurst