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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2508      2008 Dec 17 20.36UT
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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V458 VULPECULAE
This nova which went into outburst on 2007 August 8 (see TA E-Circular 
2364 and Early Warning Circular 184) has recently displayed large 
fluctuations in its light curve (from mag 15-16 approximately) according 
to photometric measures by David Boyd and Guy Hurst.

At the same time a draft paper has been received, authored by Roger 
Wesson, University College London, describing V458 Vulpeculae as only 
the second known case of a nova occurring within a planetary nebula, 
preceded only by GK Persei (nova, 1901). It seems a nebulous ring was 
seen on images prior to the latest nova explosion and the possibility 
the ring could be connected to a much earlier nova outburst has been 
ruled out. The current brightness variations may be due to interaction 
of the planetary nebula ring with the latest material from the nova 
explosion. Observations at these phase are urgently required.

Charts for the current faint phase can be obtained at:
http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/

V1647 ORIONIS AND MCNEIL'S NEBULA
V. Venkat and B. G. Anandarao, Astronomy and Astrophysics Division,
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, report near-infrared photometry 
done at Mt. Abu Observatory's 1.2-m telescope (+ NICMOS infrared array) 
during Nov. 21.848-21.883 UT on the eruptive young stellar object V1647 
Ori. The object was very recently reported to be in its strong outburst 
phase from optical observations after having recovered from the earlier 
outburst during 2004-2005. These recent observations, made on a very 
clear and photometric night, confirm the outburst phase, showing 
magnitudes in J = 10.8, H = 8.9, and K' = 7.7, with typical errors of 
less than +/- 0.1 mag in each band; these values are very close to those 
at its brightest phase during the 2004-2005 outburst and are much 
brighter than those in the quiescent phase.  The corresponding current 
infrared images clearly show the presence of McNeil's nebula around 
V1647 Ori.
Optical observations are strongly recommended.

SUPERNOVA 2008hs IN NGC 910
Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (CBET 1598):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008hs  Dec. 01.29  02 25 29.62  +41 50 35.1  17.7    31.5"E,68.1"N

Guy M Hurst