------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1196 1997 May 23 18.50UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- Z UMI Recent observations suggest that the R-CrB variable Z UMi is fading as evidenced by the following selected results: 1997 May 2.03UT, 11.6v (Gary Poyner, Birmingham, UK) 3.01 , 11.6v (Poyner) 3.14 , 11.4v (G.Hanson, Cave Creek, USA) 5.19 , 11.6v (Hanson) 7.01 , 11.6v (Poyner) 8.18 , 12.0v (Hanson) 9.42 , 12.1v (Hanson) 10.09 , 11.7v (M.Biesmans, Belgium) 13.40 , 12.2v (Hanson) 14.38 , 12.0v (Hanson) 17.39 , 12.6v (Hanson) Taichi Kato, Japan comments that the star was last observed in a deep dust minimum around 1996 Jan-Apr. He adds that there is a typical interval between fades (both major and minor) of 170 days. V723 CAS = NOVA CAS 1995 Nova Cas 1995 is being designated V723 Cas in the 73rd Name List of Variables (IBVS 4471). An updated light curve also incorporating the new name has been submitted to our Webmaster Nick James and will shortly be available on the TA WWW pages. It can be accessed from the main page (URL as above) by then selecting the 'nova/supernova' option. Guy M Hurst