------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1049 1996 Feb 18 10.27UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- NOVA CAS 1995 Reports reaching us during the last few days suggest that once again this nova is brightening: (All dates are 1996 Feb and UT) 15.090, 8.5 (M.Zanotta, Italy) 15.136, 9.2 (W.Dillon, USA, 0.05-m OG) 15.538, 8.9 (S.Takahashi, Japan) 15.750, 8.4 (S.Baroni, Italy) 15.822, 8.6 (S.Brincat, Malta, 0.25-m T) 15.971, 9.2 (G.Hurst, UK, 15x80B) 16.003, 8.6 (B.Granslo, Norway, 0.21-m T) 16.392, 7.8 (S.Takahashi, Japan) 16.507, 7.9 (M.Yamamoto, Japan, 0.10-m refl.) 16.773, 8.3 (G.Poyner, UK, 10x50B) 16.821, 7.6 (M.Moeller, Germany, 0.15-m refl.) 16.895, 8.0 (G.Hurst, UK, 15x80B) 17.067, 7.8 (W.Dillon, USA, 0.05-m OG) 17.483, 7.7 (M.Nakatani, Japan, 0.20-m T) It is also evident from the above results that there is significant disagreement amongst often experienced observers in short timescales. It is known that some novae vary rapidly and this object has such an irregular light curve that this is perfectly possible. However another important factor is the instrument used. If the nova is strongly coloured then those using larger aperture telescopes may be able to detect this more readily than other observers with smaller instruments such as binoculars. Strongly coloured stars can produce larger scatter especially if the colour is obvious in the instrument used. All these effects can be built into later analysis but ONLY if the specific instrument is quoted against each estimate. Many reports on the Internet quote a range of instruments at the bottom of the report but do not specify which was used for each estimate of the nova. EDITOR'S ABSENCE The Editor will be away and not contactable from Tuesday morning Feb 20 until the evening of Feb 23. During that time Martin Mobberley and Nick James will deputise. Details of these contact points were given in E-Circular 1033. Guy M Hurst