THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 653 1992 July 26 13.45UT 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 TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH ------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORS ABSENCE Subscribers are reminded that the editor will be away from July 31 to August 13 during which time all queries regarding this service should be directed to Martin Mobberley. BC UMA Patrick Schmeer, Germany has reported an outburst of this dwarf nova which is on the recurrent objects programme: 1992 July 16.876, [12.7 (Schmeer); 18.93, 12.0? (Schmeer); 19.93, 14.0 (Gary Poyner, Birmingham); 19.951, 13.9 (Poyner); The previous reported maximum was on 1990 Sept 9 when the star reached magnitude 10.9 (IAUC 5089, 5091). DM LYR Bill Worraker, Didcot reports an outburst of this dwarf nova for which no previous outburst data is given in the recurrent objects catalogue: 1992 July 21.956UT, [14.2 (Poyner); 22.008, 13.8 (Worraker); 22.923, 13.9 (Poyner); 22.927, 13.9 (Worraker); 22.933, 13.9 (Poyner); 22.956, 13.9 (Poyner); 23.077, 13.8 (Poyner); 24.916, 14.2 (Poyner); 24.990, 14.1 (Poyner). These observations were made using the TA chart with sequence based on that of the AAVSO. However the observers indicate some corrections may be needed and further views of this would be welcomed. SUPERNOVAE 1992ai AND 1992aj IN ANONYMOUS GALAXIES J. Maza, University of Chile; and M. Hamuy, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, report the discoveries of two apparent supernovae on 20-min unfiltered IIa-O plates taken by M.Wischnjewsky (University of Chile) with the CTIO Curtis Schmidt telescope. SN 1992ai, found by R. Antezana, was at mpg about 17.5 on a plate taken July 5.420 UT, and is located about 2".5 west and 7" south of the nucleus of a spiral galaxy at R.A. = 1h26m50s.4, Decl. = -32 31'52" (equinox 1950.0). SN 1992aj, found by Wischnjewsky, was at mpg about 17 on a plate taken July 5.3, and is located about 9" east and 5" north of the nucleus of a spiral galaxy at R.A. = 23h45m12s.5, Decl. = -35 28'39". Confirmation of both supernovae was made by R. Aviles (CTIO) and F. Barrientos (University of Chile) with V CCD images obtained on July 14 and 15 with the 1-m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. Neither star appears on European Southern Observatory Sky Survey photographs. IAUC 5564 SUPERNOVA 1992ak IN UGC 3862 E. Helin and K. Lawrence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, report the discovery by D. Moraru of an apparent supernova on films taken by Helin et al. with the Palomar 0.46-m Schmidt telescope. The star is located in the southern spiral arm of UGC 3862, about 45" from the galaxy's nucleus. The discovery film taken Jan. 9.406 UT shows SN 1992ak at mag 16.0, and a film taken Jan. 30.289 yields mag 16.7, while no star is present at this position on a photograph taken in 1991 January. The following measurement of SN 1992ak from the discovery photograph is by Moraru: R.A. = 7h24m50s.52, Decl. = +20 29'40".3 (equinox 1950.0). IAUC 5565 Guy M Hurst