THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 339 1989 Sep 03 07.47UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 JANET:GMH at UK.AC.RO-GREENWICH.STARLINK 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- JANET As Dialcom subscribers will already been aware, MICROLINK have announced that from October 1 it will be possible to exchange messages with 100,000 users of JANET. It is probable that gateway access beyond JANET will also enable contact to be made with other overseas systems. This is particularly valuable to our group where we already have JANET subscribers who have not, until now, been able to contact those on DIALCOM. There is also, of course, the decision by MICROLINK to part company from TELECOM GOLD but I understand gateways will continue between the two so there appears to be no threat to our existing communications. Of even more importance is that the MICROLINK/JANET connection will mean that professional and amateur astronomers will be able to contact each other easily as most 'pros' are on JANET. In the current climate of 'PRO-AM' this is a vital step forward. Whilst we still await specific and technical details of the new MICROLINK, there is no doubt that our group will benefit substantially from the new arrangements. Q1989/62 Attila Mizser, Budapest, Hungary, reports that Istvan Papp has recorded a mag 8 object on a photograph of 1989 Aug 14 at 00.40UT. The position is: RA 21h34m DEC +57 30'(1950) The film was Fomapan 800 pushed to ISO 3200 and the exposure of 35 seconds duration. Mizser notes the following variables near to this position: GL Cep RA 21h36m12s DEC +57 31.0'(1950) 12.9-13.9p M6 LT Cep RA 21 31 48 +57 34.9 14.6-15.4p NSV 13802 RA 21 33 48 +57 23.3 14.4-15.4p Blue Object None appears to be the candidate if the GCVS/NSV range is accepted. Please check recent photos and any for Aug 14 in particular and report to the Editor by e-mail. Guy M Hurst