THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 613 1992 Feb 27 19.50UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ON 231 E. Massaro, R. Nesci, and G. C. Perola, Astronomical Institute, Rome University; and D. Lorenzetti and L. Spinoglio, Istituto Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario, CNR, Frascati, communicate: "We observed the BL Lac object ON 231 (W Com) with the TIRGO telescope on Gornergrat Mountain. From a literature search, the object is at its highest brightness level observed since 1972. Johnson magnitudes were as follows on Feb. 2: B = 15.11 +/- 0.03, V = 14.59 +/- 0.04; K = 11.31 +/- 0.02. No significant flux variations were detected over six days. Further observations of this source are encouraged." IAUC 5458 Editor: This object is located at: RA 12h 18.6m DEC +28 29'(1950). A 'C' paper chart has been added to the existing 'B' chart and a photoelectric sequence to V=17.0 used. Part of this has been incorporated into the following e-mail version for use with FINDERS.EXE: \\\\\\ON 231 = W Com =QSO1219+285 S,120,10,S P,12h 18.6m +28 29' (1950) O,60,60,14.5,16.5V R,12.08,62,65,A R,13.08,36,65,B R,13.51,65,21,C R,14.82,56,45,D R,15.60,34,73,E -S,TA920227 M,10,86,89 M,12,117,116,15,15 M,13,76,103,31,84 M,14,18,39,89,37,31,15,32,22 M,15,101,119 M,16,86,85,110,23,119,97 E,19 ////// Basic chart automatically generated by GSC2FIND ver 1.1 NOVA CYGNI 1992 P. Garnavich, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, reports: "A spectrogram of Nova Cyg 1992, centered at 482.0 nm and covering 50 nm (resolution 0.06 nm FWHM), was obtained on Feb. 22.58 UT with the DAO 1.2-m telescope. H-beta shows a P-Cyg emission profile with two strong absorption components at -910 and -1670 km/s. Singly ionized iron lines at 492.4 and 501.8 nm are also seen with P-Cyg profiles. The spectrum is very similar to the principal spectrum of Nova Cyg 1978 (V1668 Cyg; Klare, Wolf, and Krautter 1980, A.Ap. 89, 282) one day after maximum." Herman Mikuz, Ljubljana, Slovenia, forwards the following photometry obtained by A. Dolzan, Litija, Slovenia, with a 0.32-m reflector: Feb. 24.170 UT: V = 4.38 +/- 0.02, B-V = +0.49 +/- 0.02. Guy M Hurst