THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 505     1991 April 04 19.31UT
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
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POSSIBLE NOVA IN CENTAURUS
W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, reports his discovery of an
apparent nova, found with Problicom on 2415 film at the following
position:  R.A. = 13h46m40s, Decl. = -62 54'.6 (equinox 1950.0).
He provides the following magnitudes:  Mar. 17.389 UT, [11 (orange
filter); Apr. 2.139 and 2.143, 8.7 (red filter). The object was
confirmed by M. Hamuy at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory.
IAUC 5230

SV SAGITTAE
Gary Poyner, Birmingham, reports that this R-CrB variable is
fading: 1991 April 3.13UT, 12.7; 4.07, 12.9. In response to our
request for confirmation, Denis Buczynski, Conder Brow Observatory,
checked a photograph of Nova Herculis 1991 taken on April 3.10UT
with the 14inch focus f/5.6 astrograph and on T-Max 400. He reports
this exposure also covers the field of SV Sge but the variable is
not present to a limit of photovisual 12.0. As earlier magnitude
estimates suggest the normal brightness is around 11.0 visual this
confirms the fade. A later report from Patrick Schmeer in Germany
indicates he saw the star on Mar 28.2UT at magnitude 12 but the
estimate was uncertain due to difficult conditions.

NOVA HERCULIS 1991
H.Kosai, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan reports on
IAUC 5230 that K.Tsuchiya has found an image of the nova at about
magnitude 5.4 on a photograph of Mar 24.757UT (T-Max 400).
Further magnitude estimates:
1991 Mar 31.08, 9.4 (P.Schmeer, Germany); 31.12, 9.5 (Schmeer);
31.79UT, 9.6: (R.McNaught, Australia); Apr 1.08UT, 10.1 (Schmeer);
1.13, 10.1 (Schmeer); 1.36, 9.9 (J.Bortle, USA); 1.46, 9.4
(P.Sventek, USA); 1.78, 10.2 (McNaught); 2.14, 10.3 (Schmeer);
2.14, 10.4 (A.Pereira, Portugal); 2.79, 10.4 (McNaught); 3.08, 10.5
(Schmeer); 3.12, 10.6 (G.Poyner, Birmingham),

Guy M Hurst