------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 987 1995 Aug 20 13.59UT 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 WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPERNOVA 1995W IN NGC 7650 A. Williams and R. Martin, Perth Observatory, report the discovery on Aug. 5.65 UT by the Perth Astronomy Research Group's automated supernova search of an apparent supernova (mag about 16) located 9" west and 22" south of the center of NGC 7650 (R.A. = 23h25m.3, Decl. = -57d48', equinox 2000.0). J. Greenhill and K. M. Hill, Canopus Observatory, University of Tasmania, write: "Instrumental CCD magnitudes measured with the Canopus Observatory 1-m telescope on Aug. 10.6 UT show that the object was 1.0 mag fainter in v and much hotter (b-v = -0.26) than the closest bright star, located about 1'.6 south and west of the supernova. S. Benetti and T. Augusteijn, European Southern Observatory; and A. Sarajedini, Kitt Peak National Observatory, communicate: "Inspection of a preliminarily-reduced CCD spectrum (range 396-793 nm, resolution 1 nm) obtained on Aug. 17.29 UT with the Danish 1.54-m telescope (+ DFOSC) at La Silla confirms this object as a supernova of type II, about 1 month after maximum. IAUC 6206 COMET 1995 Q1 The following position was measured by R. M. West, European Southern Observatory, from the exposure taken by G. Pizarro (cf. E985): 1995 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Aug. 17.99097 11 02 20.9 -13 28 45 IAUC 6207 GO COM Daisaku Nogami and Taichi Kato, Ouda Team, Japan report that this UG star was again brighter than normal on Aug 13.445UT when it was recorded at V=15.4. On Aug 14.445UT it had faded to 16.6. This follows a remarkable sequence of activity which was first reported on E981. V CRA Peter Nelson relays word from Peter Williams, Heathcote, NSW, Australia that the R CrB-type variable V CrA is fading: 1995 July 27.41UT, 9.8; 28.38, 9.8; Aug. 9.48, 10.7. Berto Monard, Pretoria, South Africa confirms the fading: Aug 2.78UT, 10.6; 4.79, 10.6; 12.72, 10.7; 14.71, 10.8. Guy M Hurst