THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 768       1993 Aug 16 20.10UT
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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FIREBALL
Christine Platt, Reading, UK reports a visual observation of a
bright fireball, probably a Perseid of about magnitude -12 seen at
approx 19.50UT on Aug 16. The object was first seen at about 30
degrees altitude in the North-East moving straight down to the
horizon and flaring up with sparks before final extinction. The
estimated duration was 3 seconds, suggesting it was relatively
slow-moving. The fireball, of yellowish-white colour, was seen in
strong twilight.
If any other observers witnessed this event please e-mail results
as soon as possible.

GRO J0422+32
A. V. Filippenko and T. Matheson, University of California,
Berkeley, report that the brightness of GRO J0422+32 appears to
have increased significantly since the last reports in April.
Preliminary calibration of spectra (range 310-1000 nm) obtained on
Aug. 13 UT with the Shane 3-m reflector at Lick Observatory yields
V = 14.7 +/- 0.5.  Strong, broad Balmer absorption lines are
visible in the rather blue continuum; H-alpha exhibits an emission
component, as well.  The object may have experienced a new
accretion event at some time during the past four months.
A. J. Castro-Tirado, Danish Space Research Institute, Lyngby; and
J. L. Ortiz, Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, Granada,
report: "We have been observing the optical counterpart of the soft
x-ray transient GRO J0422+32, discovered in 1992 Aug. CCD frames
taken at the Spanish 1.52-m telescope at the German-Spanish Calar
Alto Observatory have shown that GRO J0422+32 has undergone a
dramatic and unexpected increase in brightness by 3.6 mag in the
last three days.  Preliminary magnitudes (+/- 0.2):  Aug. 10.105
UT, V = 18.7; 13.17, 15.1.  The object may be emitting strongly at
high energies, therefore x-rays and gamma-ray observations should
be very valuable.  Spectroscopic and photometric observations at
all wavelengths are encouraged."
IAUC 5842

P.Garnavich, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, has subsequently
sent the following report to us:

"The X-ray nova GRO-J0422+32 appears to, again, be in outburst.
CCD photometry obtained at the Manastash Ridge Observatory of the
University of Washington gives the following preliminary
V magnitudes:

      UT Date    V mag
    Aug 10.476 17.8+-0.1
    Aug 11.470 15.83+-0.04
    Aug 12.455 15.68+-0.03
    Aug 13.490 15.32+-0.03

This object is already on the Recurrent Objects Programme of the UK
Nova/Supernova Patrol and further observations are urgently needed.

DX ANDROMEDAE
Further estimates of the current outburst (cf E767):
Aug 13.030UT, 13.2 (G.Poyner, Birmingham, UK); 13.89, 11.9
(M.Westlund, Sweden); 13.94, 12.4 (B.Granslo, Norway); 13.99, 12.1
(H.Bengtsson, Sweden); 14.88, 11.9 (Bengtsson).