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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1312      1998 Jun 17 21.09UT
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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POSSIBLE NOVA IN OPHIUCHUS
S. Nakano, Sugano, Japan, reports the discovery of a possible nova
(mag 9.5) by Kesao Takamizawa, Saku-machi, Nagano-ken, which was
found on two T-Max 400 films (each exposure about 4.5 min) taken
on June 15.561 UT with a 0.10-m f/4.0 lens.

Takamizawa reports the position of the possible nova as:
R.A. = 17h32m00s.0, Decl. = -19o13'56" (2000).

No star is present at this location on 48 previous patrol films
taken by Takamizawa between 1994 Feb. 17 and 1998 May 19.  R. and
Y. Kushida report the following position end figures for the
variable star from a poor CCD image obtained on June 16.531, when
they estimated V = 10.0: 31m59s.82, 57".0 (uncertainty stated as
1" or more; average of three frames).  There is a red USNO A1.0
star (B = 18.0, R = 16.8) at position end figures 59s.79, 55".0.
T. Kato, Kyoto University, notes that the possible nova lies
within the 16" error circle of the ROSAT source:
1RXS 173200.0-191349.
IAUC 6941

THE ASTRONOMER, 1998 JUNE ISSUE
It has proved necessary for the Editor to withold, at the very
last moment,  approximately three pages of material originally
scheduled for publication in our June issue. The printers have
added three blank pages headed 'NOTES' to maintain the multiple
of four page system used in the printing. We stress this is
intentional and does not infer any material is missing.

ANNUAL AWARDS
Details can also be found in the June issue of the award
procedure for both covers and overall contribution to the
previous volume. Please note there is an option to submit
these votes by e-mail to the Editor's DEMON mailbox. We encourage
a good response to the voting with e-mail preferred.

Guy M Hurst