THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 174 1988 June 25 21.40UT. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET SHOEMAKER-HOLT-RODRIQUEZ (1988h) E.M.Shoemaker reports that Carolyn Shoemaker has discovered a comet on films taken by Henry E.Holt, Henry R.Holt and Tim A. Rodriquez with the 0.46-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar: 1988 UT RA(1950) DEC (1950) m1 June 11.40156 20h14m34.75s +18 21'47.2" 13 12.37083 20 13 54.12 +18 19 24.5 The comet is strongly condensed. IAUC 4618 MARS Reports have been received by the Central Bureau of a major dust storm over the Martian Southern Hemisphere. K.Rhea noted a small yellow patch in the NW quadrant of Hellas which by June 13 had expanded to Yaonis. On June 18, R.Schmude, Texas, reported the storm centred at longitude 260 deg latitude -50 deg. IAUC 4617 V482 CYGNI The fade announced on E-173 continues. G.Poyner reports mag 13.4 on June 24.96UT. There is a chart and sequence in BAAJ 1988 April p132. TAV 0226+39 A.Young, Burwash, reports that this object was not recorded to mag 16.0 on exposures of 1988 June 23 with the 0.57-m refl. B.Manning reports measurement on the Palomar Sky Survey candidate proposed by Hurst which gives end figures: RA 22.18s DEC 17.4" (1950) This compares with RA 22.21s DEC 19.9" (1950) from his measure of the outburst object on a photo by M.Mobberley. The PSS measure is based on only a 3 star SAOC reduction and is therefore uncertain. We understand that Geneva Observatory have measured comparison stars near the variable and a telex has today been sent to Switzerland for more information. Guy M Hurst