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 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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