THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 495 1991 Mar 16 11.18UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP, England. Telephone: (0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 Telex: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G JANET BOXES: GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK or GUYH at UK.AC.SUSSEX.CLUSTER TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 PRESTE L 256471074 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3C 345 OUTBURST In response to the appeal on E494, Herman Mikuz, A.Dolzan and B.Dintinjana, Yugoslavia, have confirmed the outburst and comment: "On 1991 Mar. 13.07UT, we obtained a 2 min unfiltered CCD frame at the 0.2-m f/2 Baker-Schmidt Camera at Crni vrh Observatory. We reduced the magnitude using V comparison magnitudes (ref. Astr. Journal 90 1184). Mean value of 3 measurements gives mv=15.8. The actual V mag. is probably in the range of about 0.5mag fainter. Limiting magnitude of the frame was approximately 16.5. The object was too faint and thus not detected visually in C-14 telescope in spite of perfect seeing conditions". A later message: "We have monitored this object with the 0.25-m S-C telescope and CCD at the University of Ljubljana Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory. On a 90sec unfiltered CCD frame, taken on 1991 Mar.15.07UT the object was at mv=15.9. We reduced the magnitude using V comparison magnitudes in Astr. J. 90 1184. The actual mv is probably somewhat lower. Limiting mag of the frame was about 17.0. The object brightness seems to be nearly steady during the past two days". SUPERNOVA 1991M IN IC 1151 C. Pennypacker, S. Perlmutter, S. Carlson, N. Hamilton, H.Marvin, R. Muller, and C. Smith communicate: "The Berkeley Automated Supernova Search reports the discovery of a supernova located 60" north and 36" east of the core of galaxy IC 1151 (R.A. = 15h56m16s.5,Decl. = +17 35'03", equinox 1950.0) in two separate images observed Mar. 12 UT. There was no supernova visible on an image taken Feb.24 to a limit (90-percent confidence level) of mag 17.5." B. Schmidt and B. Leibundgut, Center for Astrophysics, report: "A spectrogram (range 400-900 nm) obtained on Mar. 13.35 UT with the Multiple Mirror Telescope shows the object to be a type-Ia supernova close to maximum light. SN 1991M was at mag about 15 and is located at R.A. = 15h56m20s.5, Decl. = +17 35'25" (1950." IAUC 5207 TAV 0033+59 Recent results for this star, originally found by Mike Collins (cf E459,469,471), suggest it may be brightening but there is considerable scatter in the results, even amongst experienced variable star observers. It is not clear whether this is due to sequence problems or variations in brightness on a rapid timescale. We are now carrying out an analysis of the preliminary results in conjunction with help from professional astronomers and also hope to secure a spectrum of the star shortly. Please continue to monitor the star on a nightly basis. If anyone has estimates not previously submitted, please e-mail them as soon as possible and quote times as well as the date. TA INDEX Andrew Hartridge has left Liverpool but can now be contacted at: CBS%NSFNET-RELAY::EDU.FREENET.CLEVELAND::AN808 or CBS%NSFNET-RELAY::EDU.CWRU.INS.CWNS2::AN808 from JANET. Guy M Hurst