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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1004      1995 Oct 08 10.00UT
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
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R CRB
A report was received from George Alcock, Yaxley, Peterborough, UK
on the night of Oct 1 indicating he had noted R CrB was rather
fainter than usual during his nova sweeps with binoculars. The
Editor checked the star on Oct 1.826UT and estimated it at 6.3v
(15x80B). As this star is the subject of many biased observations
we chose to not issue an alert at that stage.
Subsequently the following selected results have been received:
Oct  1.79UT, 6.3 John Day, Leicester, UK 10x50B
     2.75UT, 6.4 G.Zajacz, Hungary, 7x50B
     3.40UT, 6.5 K.Hirosawa, Japan, 50F
     4.74UT, 6.6 G.Zajacz
     4.84UT, 6.5 J.Day
     5.78UT, 6.8 A.Diepvens, Belgium, 0.15-m OG
R CrB is known to have periods of fainter phases generally to
magnitude 6.9 without necessarily fading down to a full minimum.
It is not therefore entirely clear what the future activity will
be and we welcome regular reports at this important phase.

FN AND
Gary Poyner, Birmingham UK reports an outburst of this star:
1995 Sep 20.004, [16.2 Poyner 0.40-m refl.
         22.938,  14.0 Poyner
         23.009,  14.1 John Day 0.40-m refl. (Confirmation)
The last recorded outburst was on July 20.

AK CNC
Bill Worraker, Didcot, UK reports an outburst of this star.
The event has been confirmed by Eric Broens in Belgium:
1995 Oct  5.186, 13.2 Worraker, 0.26-m refl. TA sequence
          6.166, 13.7 Broens, 0.35-m refl. AAVSO sequence
The last recorded outburst was on May 3 at 14.0.

COMET CONJUNCTION
The Editor notes from the ephemerides on E999 (Comet P/1995 S1)
and E1002 (Comet P/1995 S1) that they will be close enough in
the sky on Oct 9-10 to be recorded in the same field with a
telephoto lens system. The moon may however hamper observations.
We would welcome any successful images which are obtained.

COMET 73P/SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 3
In recent weeks we have been receiving conflicting reports
relating to magnitude estimates of this comet. Although IAUCs
have included reports of a major brightening none of the TA
observers contributing this month (20 in the Oct TA) have
successfully seen the comet and some have reported negative
observations. We therefore welcome further results to establish
confirmation of the brightening.

Guy M Hurst