------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1146 1996 Nov 30 19.16UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- HBV 479 = V745 HER Mike Collins reports that an object was recorded bright at magnitude 10.9 on photographs of 1996 August 21.9UT secured for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol using 135mmFL lens and hypered TechPan 2415 film. The star, which appeared slightly diffuse and presumably very red, was identified as V745 Herculis, a variable of Mira type. Lubos Kohoutek, Hamburger Sternwarte, Germany reported on IBVS 4352 the discovery of an apparent new variable, formerly catalogued as HBV 479, known already as an emission-line star. Mike Collins finds that the finder for HBV 479, the location of his variable on patrol photographs and the Morgenroth finder chart for V745 Her (Astron. Nach., vol.252, columns 389-93 [1934]) show all three relate to the same star. A report has been sent to Lubos Kohoutek, the IBVS Editors and to the compilers of the GCVS as the latter catalogue incorporates an incorrect position. The object = IRAS 18502+2050 which is located at: RA 18h 50m 17.1s DEC +20 50'39"(1950) whereas the GCVS has: RA 18h 50m 08s +20 50.9' (1950) MARKARIAN 421 Gary Poyner, Director of the BAA VSS, reports that various observers of the section have reported Markarian 421 is undergoing an outburst: 1996 Oct 18.069UT, mv=13.0 (Poyner, Birmingham, UK 0.40-m refl.) Nov 8.072 12.6 (W.Worraker, Didcot, 0.26-m refl.) 8.127 12.3 (Poyner) 8.223 12.6 (J.Toone, Cressage, 0.20-m SC) 10.134 12.3 (Poyner) 10.228 12.4 (Toone) Gary comments that reference to the BAAVSS database which goes back to 1981 suggests that Markarian 421 is approaching the brightest so far recorded. Guy M Hurst