TA e-circular

<title>TA e-circular</title>
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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 710       1993 Feb 20 12.41UT
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      TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885
GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS  STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH
GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK            STARLINK: CAVAD::GMH
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ALPHA ORIONIS
E. Guinan, B. Deeney, and K. Miller report:  "Photoelectric
photometry being carried out at Villanova University Observatory
shows that alpha Ori is undergoing a rapid decrease in brightness.
Beginning in 1992 October the star's brightness has decreased about
0.45 mag, to V about +0.87 in early 1993 February.  The last time
alpha Ori was this faint occurred about 4-4.5 yr ago.  We encourage
complementary observations over the next few months."
IAUC 5708

SUPERNOVA 1993E IN KUG 0940+495
C. Pollas, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, reports his discovery of
an apparent supernova (mag about 19) on a Tech Pan film taken Jan.
27.08 UT with the 0.9-m Schmidt telescope.  SN 1993E is located at
R.A. = 9h40m26s.26, Decl. = +49 31'41".7 (equinox 1950.0), or 11"
west and 7".8 north of the center of a galaxy known as KUG 0940+495
(Lyon-Meudon extragalactic database).  SN 1993E is present at the
limiting magnitude of a V plate taken Jan. 17, but not present on
the POSS prints.  A blue object (mag about 20) has end figures
25s.71, 40".6, and a nearby star (mag 15) has end figures 32s.06,
30'45".7.  A. Maury, J. B. Emond, and Pollas found SN 1993E at mag
about 20 on Feb. 14.1 with the same telescope (+ unfiltered CCD).
IAUC 5709

SW URSAE MAJORIS
The outburst reported on E707 appears to have been short-lived
and not a superoutburst as was suggested on AAVSO Alert Notice 168:
1993 Feb 18.407     11.8   M.Yamada,Japan(communicated by T.Kato)
	 18.494     11.9   M.Iida  (do.)
	 18.501     11.8   T.Kato  (do.)
	 18.503     11.9   M.Iida  (do.)
	 18.520     11.8   T.Kato  (do.)
	 18.950     12.5   J.Toone, Shrewsbury, UK
	 18.963     12.7   M.Gainsford, Burbage, UK
	 18.996     12.9   G.Poyner, Birmingham, UK
	 19.791     13.8   Poyner
	 19.847     13.8   G.Hurst, Basingstoke, UK

VARIABLE STAR CATALOGUE
A new edition of this catalogue (1993/2) has been released.
It contains 504 entries relating to 480 available paper charts and
85 electronic charts plus comprehensive data on a wide range of
variable stars. The cost is #5.00. Remittances should be made
payable to 'The Astronomer' and orders sent to the Editor

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