THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 538       1991 July 9 18.33UT
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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SUPERNOVA 1991ai IN IC 4434
C. Pollas, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, reports his discovery on
OCA Schmidt tech pan films of an apparent supernova in IC 4434
(R.A. = 14h25m32s.62, Decl. = +16 25'49".1, equinox 1950.0).
The supernova, of mag 18.5 on July 2.93 and 3.93 UT, is located at
R.A. = 14h25m33s.09, Decl. = +16 25'43".9.  Nothing is visible to
mag 21 on a plate taken Apr. 20.0, nor is anything present on POSS
prints at the position of SN 1991ai.  There is a star of mag about
15 located at R.A. = 14h25m33s.50, Decl. = +16 27'46".9.
IAUC 5298

METEOR ACTIVITY 1991 JULY 4
According to a report relayed by Graeme Waddington and Paul Leyland
The Times carried a note in the July 5 edition that unusually high
meteor activity was seen over Britain early on July 4:
"At 2am a display was seen by a man at Watchet, Somerset who
reported what he thought were distress flares over the Bristol
Channel. Swansea coastguards checked on the sighting and reported
several meteors. One was seen falling in the Bristol Channel,
narrowly missing a tug.
The display was visible in the Taunton areas with patrolling
policemen making a number of reports. Coastguards from Falmouth to
Liverpool reported unusual activity in the clear night sky."
Does anyone have observations of this activity?

TA COMMS CATALOGUE
The following additional entry can be made to the catalogue
(cf E535)
Hodgson, Doug    JG /DD.DIR=W.D.HODGSON/G=10087/S=YQQ593/ (see
                    gateway instructions)                 Stockport
Additionally Gavin Ramsay now advises an amended entry:
Ramsay, Gavin    J  CBS%UK.AC.ST-ANDREWS.STAR::GR              Fife

COMET LEVY (1991q)
David Moore notes that this comet passes 6.5'N of Messier 38 on
1991 July 30 at 07hUT. An ephemeris was given on E536.

NOVA SCUTI 1981 (Q1991/55)
Savvas Koushiappas, Cyprus has advised us that this object, located
at RA 18h44m11.7s DEC -04 59'56"(1950) and found by David Branchett
on 1981 January 18, was seen on 1991 July 7 at 20.55UT at magnitude
10.5. This observation was made with a 0.21-m S-C and the estimate
was based on the TA 'B' chart. The next night he again observed
the field, as also did John Isles (also Cyprus) but the star was
not seen to magnitude 12. Gary Poyner advises us that the star was
not seen to magnitude 11.9 on July 7 at 01.33UT during his patrol
for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol, recurrent objects section. Are
there any further recent observations?

VARIABLE OBJECT IN DELPHINUS (Q1991/54)
We have received an unconfirmed report of a possible outburst of
a stellar object at approx: RA 20h31m DEC +15.5deg (1950?). Could
observers please check this field and report back?

Guy M Hurst