THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 661       1992 Aug 23 15.59UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074
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GRO J0422+32
A. J. Castro-Tirado, Danish Space Research Institute (DSRI),
Lyngby; P. Pavlenko, A. Salyapikov, and R. Gershberg, Crimean
Astrophysical Observatory, Nauchny; and V. Hayrapetyan, S. Brandt,
and N. Lund, DSRI, report:  "Using CCD images obtained at the
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, we have identified a probable
optical counterpart for the hard x-ray transient GRO J0422+32 (IAUC
5580, 5584, 5587), located at  R.A. = 4h18m34s +/- 1s, Decl. =
+32 47'33" +/- 15" (equinox 1950.0).  No corresponding object is
found on the Palomar Sky Survey plates.  On Aug. 15.01 UT,
photometry of the candidate object yielded B = 13.25 +/- 0.3, B-V =
+0.66 +/- 0.3, V-R = +0.76 +/- 0.3.  Follow-up observations in
radio and ultraviolet are strongly encouraged."
IAUC 5588
The Granat team subsequently reported a further position estimated
from an observation by SIGMA: RA 4h18m27s DEC +32 48.0'[1950].
IAUC 5589
N.Shakhovskoj, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory also reports a
position obtained with the 1.25-m reflector:
RA 4h18m35.3s DEC +32 47'29"[1950].
Photometry: 1992 Aug 16.04UT, V=13.21; 17.00, 13.30.
IAUC 5590
C.R.Shrader, Computer Sciences Corporation also reports a
position obtained with the IUE: RA 4h18m29.9s DEC +32 47'24"[1950].
On Aug 16.62UT, V was about 13.3.
IAUC 5591

Gary Poyner, Birmingham, reports an observation on 1992 Aug
23.062UT of a star of visual magnitude 11.9 which, from his
description of the field, the Editor finds = GSC 2376.1048. This
star is at: 4h21m39.960s DEC +32 55'43.40"[2000] and V=14.43
according to the GSC. The precessed position using J2B.BAS by
P.Leyland is: RA 4h18m27.1s DEC +32 48'40" [1950].
It appears that the Poyner candidate is not on Atlas Stellarum
(1968 Feb 29) to a limit of B=-13.8, neither is there a star near
the alternative positions quoted. However the Poyner star is
recorded on the Lick Atlas (1953 Dec 30) near B=14.5.

The identification therefore remains rather uncertain and
photographs of this field and important object are urgently
needed,

Guy M Hurst