THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 811       1994 Jan 27 19.46UT
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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ELECTRONIC MAIL
We are advised by the staff of RLSAC (Rutherford-Appleton
Laboratory) that the existing VAX system and machines will be
switched off permanently as at 1994 Jan 31. New facilities, based
on a UNIX system rather than the existing VMS mail, will become
available from 1994 Feb 1.

As various facilities on the UNIX system will only become available
at the last moment prior to RLSAC shutdown, there will be no gap
in which to learn the new system. Although the alternative mail
facilities at CAVAD (RGO, Cambridge) remain available in the
existing form and will permit issue of circulars from there, this
too closes on 1994 April 6.

We will endeavour to continue this service uninterrupted but hope
recipients will understand if there are some delays.

Mail sent to the Editor should, if all goes well, be automatically
re-directed from RLSAC to the new UNIX box (address as yet not
known) but as a precaution we recommend that DISCOVERY reports and
VARIABLE STAR MAJOR alerts together with anything requiring an
URGENT reply be sent to both RLSAC and CAVAD (see header for full
addresses).

NOVA CASSIOPEIAE 1993
Various reports from professional sources suggest that this nova
may be a member of the rare DQ Her type. This is partly based on
the detailed light curve compiled to date from over 1,000 estimates
reported to TA, and on the interpretation of its spectrum.

Reports up to Jan 25 indicate the nova was still quite bright,
near magnitude 7.6. In the case of DQ Herculis itself, a sudden
dramatic fade occurred about two magnitudes from maximum, when
it fell about nine magnitudes with a slow recovery of about six
magnitudes before the final decline.

It is very important this nova is checked on every possible
occasion. If a sudden major decline starts please e-mail us
as soon as possible,