------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1781 2002 Jun 23 09.45UT 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.theastronomer.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- POSSIBLE NOVA IN AQUILA (1985) S. V. Antipin of Sternberg Astronomical Institute in Moscow, has detected an eruptive object on the Moscow plate collection. The plates were obtained with a 0.40-m astrograph in Crimea and the brightest the object has been seen was on 1985 July 19 at magnitude 9.7pv. Further estimates were obtained on the same collection but also from Sonneberg Sky Patrol plates with the 55/250-mm short- focus camera. A preliminary analysis suggests a steep fade, with the object being three magnitudes below maximum after about 80 days suggesting that it may have been a nova which was missed. The possible nova appears to be on the red version of Palomar Sky Survey II and from the Moscow archive combined with Palomar the following position has been derived: RA 19h 02m 14.5s DEC +13 03' 04" (2000) Could we please ask TA observers to review any photographs taken of Aquila at any time during 1985. If any positive images of this object are found please send prints/images to the editor. However if you have photographs of the area not showing it for any time during 1985 please e-mail the date, time, limiting magnitude together with equipment and film used. Guy M Hurst