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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2322      2007 Apr 04 15.53UT
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      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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Z CAMELOPARDALIS
As those who attended the astronomy class of March 21 and those who saw 
the TA Exhibition at the BAA Winchester weekend will know, Galaxy 
Evolution Explorer (GALEX), an ultra-violet telescope originally 
launched on 2003 April 28, has recorded a nova-like shell suggesting Z 
Cam may have had a classical nova outburst perhaps several thousand 
years ago.

This variable has been studied by members of the BAA and subscribers to 
TA for many years and has frequent outbursts coupled with long 
standstill phases at irregular intervals, the cause of the latter not 
entirely understood.

There has long since been suggestions of a link between eruptives with 
regular small outbursts and the classical novae but this latest find 
might be the elusive evidence which astronomers have sought for some 
time.

Dr. Mike Shara, American Museum of Natural History in New York is the 
lead author on a paper on this subject, due to appear in the March 8 
issue of the journal Nature.

VARIABLE STAR IN URSA MAJOR
D. R. Madison and W. Li report on CBET 871 observations of a variable 
star at magnitude 16.4 found in the field of PGC 43240 on unfiltered 
KAIT images of Mar. 3.43. Further results: 2007 March 4.43UT, mag 16.1; 
6.42UT, magnitude 16.5. It was not recorded on a KAIT image of 2007 Jan 
31.52UT to a limit of magnitude 19.1.

The variable star is located at:
RA 12h 47m 54.45s DEC +54 00' 37.2" (2000), which is 130" west and 47" 
south of the centre of the galaxy.

V2615 OPHIUCHI = NOVA OPHIUCHI 2007
N. N. Samus, Institute of Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 
advises that this nova, which was announced on TA E-Circular 2318, has 
been designated V2615 Oph.

Guy M Hurst