THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 83 1987 Nov 08 10.38UT. Telecom Gold 72:MAG60138 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET MCNAUGHT (1987b1) Extension to ephemeris on E-77 1987 ET RA(1950) DEC(1950) Earth Sun Elong m1 Nov 11 15 57.27 -37 30.48 1.834 1.012 23.6 8.3 21 16 25.53 -30 34.52 1.842 0.922 14.3 7.9 Dec 1 16 49.74 -23 17.32 1.834 0.860 5.7 7.6 11 17 11.64 -15 37.44 1.802 0.835 7.3 7.4 21 17 32.89 -07 31.58 1.748 0.852 16.6 7.5 31 17 55.03 +01 06.06 1.678 0.907 26.4 7.7 The comet will be very difficult to observe from the UK before mid-January. NOVA-LIKE VAR IN SGR =Q1987/40 Rob McNaught e-mails further news of the object announced on E-74. The following estimates are from Tri-X (unless otherwise stated): 1986 Sept 21-Oct 23 possibly present at mag 11.1: but could be a small asterism of stars. 1986 Oct 25.45 10.4 1986 Oct 27.48 10.4: Ektachrome 400, star not red. 1986 Oct 28.45 10.4 1986 Nov 03.43 11.3: possibly the asterism? The mean of 3 measures of 85mm shots: (1950) RA 18h 00m 28.3s DEC -28 00'13" (uncertainty 8"). An HP5 film exposed with the Uppsala Southern Schmidt on 1987 Oct 22.46 shows 3 stars brighter than mag 17 within the error circle, of which one is brighter than on survey films. The coordinates for this object are: (1950) RA 18h 00m 28.65s DEC -28 00'17.5"(uncertainty 1"). On survey films the star is approx mag 16 but 14.5 on 1987 Oct 22. Could anyone with photos of the region at any time please check for images and advise the Editor accordingly. Guy M Hurst