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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2350      2007 Jun 29 09.01UT
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      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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MARS
Richard McKim, Director of the BAA Mars Section, e-mailed us on June 28 
as follows:

On 2007 June 25 Jim Melka (USA) informed me about a dust storm spreading 
west from the northern Hellas basin across Noachis. The storm over 
Noachis was bright yellow, and in extent is typical of one already a few 
days old.

Images by Ed Lomeli (USA) on June 26 showed the event to have cut across 
Hellespontus in two places, and to have progressed as least as far as 
Argyre. As of June 27 the storm also now cut across Sinus
Sabaeus in Lomeli's images, spilling into Aeria-Arabia, whilst Melka's 
image of June 27 shows that all of Hellas is full of dust, the original 
core being in the NW corner, and that activity is further developing or 
spilling over Ausonia-Hesperia to the east.

Both the timescale and nature of this development are entirely typical 
for Hellas events, and the seasonal date is also normal.

Any further observations of this event - which has now become Regional 
in status - are requested.

Editor: Please send you reports to Richard McKim at:

RMckim5374@aol.com

and also send a copy to Dr. Mark Kidger for the TA Planetary Notes in 
the usual way.

V5558 SAGITTARII
Shawn Dvorak, USA has reported via the AAVSO list that CCD B & V images 
from Jun 27.2 UT show that V5558 Sgr (= Nova Sgr 2007) has increased in 
brightness by 0.4 mag in less than 4 days, and is now at v = 8.02.  The 
colour index is substantially unchanged. The few visual observations in 
this time span indicate that the outburst may have occurred in less than 
two days. He adds that it might bear closer watching in the coming days.

Guy M Hurst