THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 390 1990 Feb 25 12.42UT Microlink: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: 94082518 Answerback: TAGUY ------------------------------------------------------------------ TASV 0008+47 Mike Collins, Sandy (MAG36908) reports his discovery of a suspected variable in Andromeda at: RA 00h08.9m DEC +47 21'(1950) on photographic exposures for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol taken on 1990 Feb 12.9UT when the magnitude was estimated at 10.1 (K2415). On various exposures 1988 Dec 12 until the end of 1989 estimates range 9.3-9.9. A chart can be e-mailed by contacting Mike direct or a snail-mail copy can be sent by e-mailing the Editor. This is the first new variable found by the patrol which has been documented using data from a CD-ROM and the Guide Star Catalog. COMET AUSTIN (1989c1) J.Merlin, Le Creusot, France, telexes that he has observed this comet at m1=7.2 on 1990 Feb 23.77UT using a 0.40-m refl. Andrew Pearce, Australia, e-mails via STARLINK the following estimates: Feb 18.53UT, 7.4 (20x80B); 19.52, 7.4; 22.53, 7.3. (coma 4', DC5-6 on Feb 19). These results suggest the comet has only brightened by 0.7 mag during the last three weeks and may now be brightening more slowly than predicted. Andrew comments that this occurs quite often with new comets when water sublimation starts to dominate at around 1.5AU JUPITER I. Miyazaki, Oriental Astronomical Association, reports the appearance of a rare, bright white spot in the North Temperate Belt of Jupiter. At zenographical latitude about +24 deg, the location of a well-known jetstream called North Temperate Current C, the rapidly-moving spot was measured at the following longitudes (System II): Feb. 10.55 UT, 265.7 deg; 12.61, 241.6; 15.47, 204.1. A similar spot was observed in 1980 (IAUC 3478). IAUC 4967 Guy M Hurst