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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1848      2003 Feb 03 19.51UT
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
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BC URSAE MAJORIS
Patrick Schmeer, Germany, has reported an outburst of the SU UMa-
type dwarf nova, BC UMa, which he observed visually on Feb 1.205UT
at magnitude 12.7.

Eddy Muyllaert, Ostend, Belgium, confirmed the outburst on Feb
1.944UT at 12.4 using a sequence by Arne Henden. Hazel McGee also
estimated it at magnitude 12.2 on Feb 1.996UT.

Taichi Kato mentions on VSNET that the last recorded outburst was
noted by Mike Simonsen in 2001 June.

SHUTTLE: COLUMBIA
James Bryan, USA, has sent the following comments to TA:
You probably already know of the destruction of NASA's shuttle-
orbiter, Columbia, on Feb 1 about 8:00AM CST as it attempted re-
entry. Since I am nearby to the action, I thought you might care to
read some local details.

Material was observed to be coming off the re-entering shuttle over
California--not at all normal. Some think that these objects were
heat tiles which may have been lost in a cascading or domino-like
fashion. By the time it reached Texas, Columbia exploded. There are
numerous eyewitnesses in central Texas, some of whom took video. I
expect you have seen their work. None of them were NASA personnel.
Apparently, NASA's optical observation efforts for re-entry start
at Eglin AFB in the Florida panhandle. The most graphic and
informative account I have heard so far came from a man in
Palestine, Texas (here, pronounced pal-es-teen) that is a little
east of Waco and southeast of Dallas. Directly overhead he saw a
broad expanding vapour trail with a spiral pattern. He described it
as being 10-15 times the breadth of a normal contrail. He was
indoors when his house and the ground shook from a loud, deep-
sounding explosion. This drew him outdoors where he expected to see
smoke coming from a nearby railroad complex. No, it was 39 miles up
with Columbia splintering to bits with secondary explosions and
multiple sonic booms. Debris is scattered from north central Texas
into Louisiana. Nacogdoches had at least one thing land in town.
They're finding it all over. So far, the biggest parts are maybe
7-8 feet long with numerous smaller objects. Needless to say, the
authorities and the local population are very upset. Presently,
they warn people to touch nothing given that propellant clinging to
surfaces can be lethal. My home, Georgetown, is about 85 miles
south of Waco.  Night shuttle re-entries are easily visible. The
weather is clear (Feb 1:Ed) and I completed my outdoor work just
before 9:00AM and went inside. I did not see the accident and I
heard nothing.

Editor: Naturally our thoughts and sympathy are with the family and
friends of the lost crew members. Whilst such people are well aware
of the risks involved in such flights, they are nevertheless very
brave to undertake such missions in the cause of science.

Guy M Hurst