------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 942 1995 Apr 05 19.25UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK ------------------------------------------------------------------- AL COMAE BERENICES Janet Mattei, Director AAVSO, relays that David York, USA reports the brightening of AL Com. The outburst has been confirmed by Tom Cragg: 1995 Apr 5.1486UT, 14.9 David York 5.6000UT, 12.7 Tom Cragg Steve Howell, USA reports that the chart in the Downes and Shara Atlas has the exact star mis-identified although in outburst he feels its location will not be in doubt as there are no other bright stars nearby. He adds that AL Com had its last outburst in 1975 (reliably detected and confirmed) and that it is highly likely that a post outburst brightening will occur, possibly to around magnitude 14. He stresses that observations should not be stopped when it fades to the limit of most telescopes as it is important to detect any secondary brightening. Steve indicates that its catalogued minimum is about magnitude 20.5 and previous outbursts have reached around magnitude 12. Sumperhump observations as well as spectra (no previous ones exist) would also be very useful. Editor: The existing TA paper chart, with revision dated 830403 has a position of RA 12h29.9m DEC +14 37' (1950) placing the star in the same field as Messier 88. The sequence is a combination of results from Bertola (Ann d'Ast Vol 27) and Stanton (PEPV). The location on the chart is from Bertola and star detail from photos by the late Alan Young. The TA position is in agreement with the GCVS. The Downes and Shara atlas picture (p184) does appear to point to a different star to that indicated on the TA chart. The catalogued position in Downes and Shara is: RA 12h32m25.61s DEC +14 20'57.5" (2000). As there is doubt concerning the positional information we strongly recommend that accurate astrometry is undertaken as a matter of urgency. The Editor would also welcome e-mailed pictures of the field if imaging is successful. Guy M Hurst