THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 145 1988 Apr 19 20.15UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16, Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone:(0256)471074.Int:+44256471074 Telex:265871(MONREF G) Quote"72:MAG60138 ATT G.HURST"in FIRST line. ------------------------------------------------------------------- NOVA OPHIUCHI 1988 H.Kosai, Toyko Astronomical Observatory, provides the following accurate position, measured by him from the Apr 14 film by Wakuda: RA 17h08m50.84s DEC -29 33'58.4" (1950). R.H.McNaught, Siding Spring Observatory, also provides a position from the mean of two films exposed on Apr 18 with the Uppsala Southern Schmidt with end figures: RA 50.81s DEC 57.7" He suggests that the prenova is a blue star of magnitude approximately 20.5 and has measured a position from the UK Schmidt J Survey film of 1976 May 31 with end figures: RA 50.86s DEC 58.2" He adds that the prenova is much brighter on B and J plates than on an I plate; on the J film it is flanked by stars of similar brightness, 3" north and 3" south. Patrol photographs by McNaught (T-Max 400, 85mm-lens) yield the following magnitudes: Apr12.63UT, 10.0; 13.65, 10.1; 14.74, 10.0; 15.62,10.0. Visual magnitude estimates: Apr 18.56UT, 10.1 (M.Morel, NSW); 18.58, 10.0 (McNaught). IAUC 4582 Guy M Hurst