THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 505 1991 April 04 19.31UT 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 PRESTEL 256471074 ------------------------------------------------------------------- POSSIBLE NOVA IN CENTAURUS W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, reports his discovery of an apparent nova, found with Problicom on 2415 film at the following position: R.A. = 13h46m40s, Decl. = -62 54'.6 (equinox 1950.0). He provides the following magnitudes: Mar. 17.389 UT, [11 (orange filter); Apr. 2.139 and 2.143, 8.7 (red filter). The object was confirmed by M. Hamuy at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory. IAUC 5230 SV SAGITTAE Gary Poyner, Birmingham, reports that this R-CrB variable is fading: 1991 April 3.13UT, 12.7; 4.07, 12.9. In response to our request for confirmation, Denis Buczynski, Conder Brow Observatory, checked a photograph of Nova Herculis 1991 taken on April 3.10UT with the 14inch focus f/5.6 astrograph and on T-Max 400. He reports this exposure also covers the field of SV Sge but the variable is not present to a limit of photovisual 12.0. As earlier magnitude estimates suggest the normal brightness is around 11.0 visual this confirms the fade. A later report from Patrick Schmeer in Germany indicates he saw the star on Mar 28.2UT at magnitude 12 but the estimate was uncertain due to difficult conditions. NOVA HERCULIS 1991 H.Kosai, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan reports on IAUC 5230 that K.Tsuchiya has found an image of the nova at about magnitude 5.4 on a photograph of Mar 24.757UT (T-Max 400). Further magnitude estimates: 1991 Mar 31.08, 9.4 (P.Schmeer, Germany); 31.12, 9.5 (Schmeer); 31.79UT, 9.6: (R.McNaught, Australia); Apr 1.08UT, 10.1 (Schmeer); 1.13, 10.1 (Schmeer); 1.36, 9.9 (J.Bortle, USA); 1.46, 9.4 (P.Sventek, USA); 1.78, 10.2 (McNaught); 2.14, 10.3 (Schmeer); 2.14, 10.4 (A.Pereira, Portugal); 2.79, 10.4 (McNaught); 3.08, 10.5 (Schmeer); 3.12, 10.6 (G.Poyner, Birmingham), Guy M Hurst