THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 499 1991 Mar 25 06.20UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone: (0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 Telex: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G JANET BOXES: GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK or GUYH at UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 PRESTEL 256471074 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBABLE NOVA (IN HERCULES?) George Alcock, Yaxley, Peterborough, England reports his discovery of a probable nova of magnitude 5 at: RA 18h 44.0m DEC +12 12'(1950) After the skies cleared at 04.15UT on Mar 25, he first saw the object at 04.35UT on Mar 25 (Mar 25.19UT) with 10x50B in strong twilight from inside his house and through plate glass windows. Denis Buczynski, Conder Brow Observatory tells us he has taken two photographs with the 5" Zeiss Astrograph on T-Max 400 which, although heavily fogged, apparently show the new object. On a 2 minute exposure obtained at 04.45UT the object trails in the same way as the stars, whereas 1 min exposure taken immediately after shows no trailing in either. The position is rather uncertain, being based solely on the visual result and could therefore place the object in Hercules, Aquila or Oph but if correct it appears this object is in Her. No other independent confirmation possible due to dawn, Guy M Hurst