THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 512 1991 Apr 20 17.46UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- NOVA OPHIUCHI 1991 R. H. McNaught, Anglo-Australian Observatory, reports the following position for the object in Oph (cf E510) from an exposure on Apr. 15.6 UT with the Uppsala Southern Schmidt: R.A. = 17h17m14s.02, Decl. = -26 43'27".1 (1950). This represents an empty field on the SERC J, I, and R, ESO B and R, and Palomar B and R surveys, implying a minimum photographic magnitude fainter than 21 and ruling out a Mira variable, which would be prominent on the I survey. The nearest stars on the SERC J survey (1976 May 29) are star A (R.A. = 17h17m13s.80, Decl. = -26 43'33".7; mag 17); star B (end figures 13s.53, 31".2; mag 18); star C (13s.45, 30".0; mag 17.5); star D (14s.65, 22".4; mag 20). No nearby star shows evidence of high proper motion, and field stars measured on the Uppsala and SERC films agree to within 0".7 . IAUC 5241 R. M. Wagner, Ohio State University; and S. G. Starrfield, Arizona State University, report: "Optical spectra of this object were obtained on Apr. 18.48 UT with the Perkins 1.8-m telescope and CCD spectrograph (range 440-700 nm, resolution 1 nm). The spectrum shows strong emission lines due to H-alpha, H-beta, Fe II, He I (587.6 nm), Na I, Si II (598.0 nm), and N II. The FWHM width of H-alpha emission is about 2300 km/s. The He I 587.6-nm and Na D blend exhibits a P-Cyg profile. The spectrum is that of a classical nova and appears to resemble the spectrum of Nova Vul 1987 (QV Vul) early in its outburst." A. C. Gilmore provides the following photometric measurements made with 0.6-m Cassregrain reflector at Mt. John University Observatory Apr. 16.67 UT (good observing conditions), V = 10.68 +/- 0.02, U-B = 0.0 +/- 0.1, B-V = +0.96 +/- 0.02, V-R = +0.86 +/- 0.01, V-I = +1.62 +/- 0.04; Apr. 17.68 (marginal conditions), 10.71 +/- 0.04, -0.01 +/- 0.1:, +0.89 +/- 0.02, +0.88 +/- 0.02, +1.52 +/- 0.07. IAUC 5243 Patrick Schmeer, Germany, e-mails visual estimates: 1991 Apr. 17.104UT, 10.3; 18.083, 10.3. NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1991 W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, reports his discovery with Problicom of a nova in the LMC. R. H. McNaught, Anglo-Australian Observatory, provides the following precise position obtained from an Apr. 16 U.K. Schmidt plate taken by S. M. Hughes and M. Hartley: R.A. = 5h04m12s.70, Decl. = -70 22'16".2 (equinox 1950.0). A nearby star of mag about 14 is located at R.A. = 5h03m56s.90, Decl. = -70 22'03".3. Available magnitude estimates (photovisual or visual unless otherwise noted): Apr. 11.43, 20 (McNaught); 12.41, 19.5 (McNaught); 13.41, 19 (McNaught); 14.5, [13 (P. Camilleri, Cobram, Victoria); 15.120, [14 (Liller; red filter); 15.5, [13 (Camilleri); 16.40, 15 (McNaught); 16.42, [14.5 (G. Garradd, Tamworth, N.S.W.); 16.50, [13 (Camilleri); 18.036 and 18.041, 12.3 (Liller, minus UV filter); 18.53, 12.4 (Camilleri); 19.40, 12.6 (Camilleri). McNaught's preliminary magnitudes are from U.K. Schmidt plates, and he notes that nothing appears in this position on the UKST J, R,and I and the ESO B and R surveys. IAUC 5244 E-INDEX David Moore (Dublin) is now on Telecom Gold as 10074:EIM105 Chein-Shiu Kuo (formerly Taiwan) has re-joined the group and can be contacted in USA via JANET using MAIL: CBS%EARN-RELAY::EDU.BU.BUCHMF::CSKUO Guy M Hurst