THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 595        1992 Jan 4 16.16UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(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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NOVA PUPPIS 1991
Paul Camilleri, Cobram, Vic., Australia, has discovered a nova at
the position R.A. = 8h09m44s.11, Decl. = -34 58'29".2 (1950)
uncertainty 0".3 in R.A., 0".4 in Decl.), this being measured by
R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring Observatory, from a 5-second exposure
with the Uppsala Southern Schmidt on Jan. 3.6 UT.  Magnitude
estimates:
1991 Dec. 11.55 UT, [12 (Camilleri, 135-mm lens and T-Max 400
film);
27.51, 6.4 (Camilleri); 1992 Jan. 1.57, 7.4 (Camilleri); 3.57, 8.2
(McNaught, visual); 3.74, 8.3 (McNaught).

McNaught notes that the prenova may be a variable that appears
just above the plate limit on the SERC I survey plate taken on 1978
Dec. 20 and at m_r about 21 on an R survey taken on 1981 Jan. 9,
but it is absent from the ESO R survey of 1979 Dec. 14, which goes
about 1 mag deeper than the 1981 plate.  The position of the
variable was measured on the SERC I survey with end figures 43s.83,
29".1.
The nearest stars (measured both on the I and J surveys, mean epoch
1978.0) are at 43s.32, 31".4, mag 20; 44s.04, 18".4, mag 19
(uncertainty 0".3 in each coordinate).  A nearby star of mag 15 has
end figures 41s.85, 20".6.

Photometry by A. C. Gilmore, Mt. John Observatory, yields:
Jan. 3.466UT, V = 8.01, U-B = -0.41, B-V = +0.64, V-R = +0.93, V-I
= +1.24; 3.555, 8.14, -0.43, +0.62, +0.96, +1.27.  Uncertainties
are about +/- 0.01 in all colours, except for U-B, which may be as
much as 0.06 more negative than given here.  Measurement by P. M.
Kilmartin (using 9 CPC stars) of a plate taken by Gilmore on Jan.
3.63 UT gives end figures 44s.01, 29".1.

EDITORS ILLNESS
The issue of these circulars is currently restricted because of the
illness of the Editor and it is unlikely replies to routine e-mails
can be made for some time.

Guy M Hurst