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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1198      1997 May 27 17.38UT
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
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SUPERNOVA 1997cm IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
The Mount Stromlo Abell Cluster Supernova Search Team reports the
discovery of an apparent supernova (R = 20.6) on V and R CCD images
taken on May 6 by S. Sabine at the Mount Stromlo 1.27-m telescope
(+ Macho Camera).  SN 1997cm is located near Abell 3528 at
R.A. = 12h53m37s.03, Decl. = -28o48'48".5 (2000).  A nearby star
has position end figures 36s.51, 54".8.  SN 1997cm was also present
on similar frames taken on May 2 and Apr. 29, but it is not visible
on images taken on Feb. 19 (limiting mag R = 22).
IAUC 6654 (extract)

SUPERNOVA 1997cn IN NGC 5490
W.-d. Li, Y.-l. Qiu, Q.-y. Qiao, Y. Zhang, W. Zhou, and J.-y. Hu,
Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO), on behalf of the BAO
Supernova Survey, report the discovery of an apparent supernova
(mag about 15.8) on an unfiltered CCD frame taken with the BAO
0.6-m reflector on May 14.6 UT.  SN 1997cn is located at
R.A. = 14h09m57s.76, Decl. = +17o32'32".3 (2000), which is 6".75
east and 11".7 south of the nucleus of NGC 5490.  The supernova was
confirmed on images obtained on May 15.  Unfiltered CCD images of
the same field taken on Apr. 30 (limiting mag about 18.0) show no
star at the position of the supernova.
IAUC 6661

COMET C/1996 J1 (EVANS-DRINKWATER) (cf E1195)
Z. Sekanina, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, writes:  "Standard analysis
(1982, Comets, University of Arizona Press, p. 251) of the
reported separation of the two nuclei (IAUC 6653) confirms that
nucleus B is the primary component and suggests tentatively the
second half of July 1996 as the most probable time of splitting, at
a relative deceleration of about 30 units of 10E-5 the solar
attraction.  The estimated uncertainty is several months, and the
comet might have broken up even before discovery, although there
seems no hope for detecting the secondary nucleus on the available
1996 images, which range from May 10 to July 18.  Predicted
separation distances and position angles for companion A relative
to primary B:  1997 May 12, 83", 253 deg; June 1, 88", 258 deg;
June 21, 94", 262 deg; July 11, 101", 266 deg."
IAUC 6662

VZ SGR
Taichi Kato, Japan advises that reports reaching him on VSNET
indicate this R CrB type variable is fading:
Feb 20.10UT, 11.6 (MLF); Apr 10.42, 12.8 (MRV); 29.34, 13.9 (MRV);
May 7.36, 14.2 (MRV); 11.36, 14.2 (MRV).
Codes relate to observers on the VSNET list.

COMET HALE-BOPP
The Editor would appreciate it if any May observations of this
comet not so far reported are e-mailed as soon as possible to
avoid a peak workload at the end of the month and also to assist
with the updating of files in connection with the proposed
handbook. Similarly if any observer has noted corrections needed
to data previously published in 'The Astronomer' please submit
revisions as soon as possible.

Guy M Hurst