THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 706 1993 Feb 06 15.20UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 TELEX: 9312111261 Answerback: TA G TELECOM GOLD: 10074:MIK2885 GMH at UK.AC.RUTHERFORD.STARLINK.ASTROPHYSICS STARLINK: RLSAC::GMH GMH at UK.AC.CAM.ASTRONOMY.STARLINK STARLINK: CAVAD::GMH ------------------------------------------------------------------- SAVING THE SONNEBERG OBSERVATORY Hans Bengtsson, Sweden e-mails: "The future of the Sonneberg Observatory, Germany, is seriously threatened; it has been suggested that it shall close down in 1994. To anyone studying variable stars, the importance of the observatory is immense and can hardly be overestimated. Their huge collection of plates makes up an indispensable reference material, whenever the history of a newly discovered variable needs to be traced. Also, the readiness of the staff to provide full and free information within a short time, always treating professionals and amateurs equally well, is worth admiration. Their return card is almost classical: "We have received : MVS xxxx. We want to receive: _________________________ You are urgently requested to return this card!" That's service! To save the Sonneberg Observatory, a special group has been formed : Freunde der Sternwarte Sonneberg Sternwarte Sonneberg Sternwartenstrasse 32 O - 6400 Sonneberg Germany It is important that many professional and amateur astronomers over the world protest against the suggested shutting down of the observatory. If you feel able to do so, please contact the group above." -Sagogangen 55, -422 45 Hisings Backa, Sweden SUPERNOVA 1993D IN ESO 571-G3 R. H. McNaught, Bugaldie, N.S.W, reports his discovery of an apparent supernova of mag about 18 on an R plate taken on Feb. 1.7 UT by M. J. Drinkwater with the U.K. Schmidt Telescope. SN 1993D is located at R.A. = 11h26m28s.90, Decl. = -22 12'34".0 (equinox 1950.0; uncertainty 0".5 in each coordinate), and it lies on the inner edge of the ring of ESO 571-G3 (= MCG -4-27-11), being offset 10".7 west and 6".8 south from the galaxy's center. A nearby star of mag 17.5 has end figures 31s.40, 03".2. No star appears in the position of the supernova on the ESO or SERC R surveys. M. Della Valle and L. Pasquini, European Southern Observatory, report: "Inspection of a spectrogram (range 450-720 nm, resolution about 2 nm) obtained on Feb. 3.3 UT with the ESO 1.5-m telescope (+ Boller & Chivens spectrograph) at La Silla shows this to be a type- Ia supernova caught about 3 weeks after maximum." IAUC 5703 IP PEGASI Professional astronomers working with Hubble advise us that IP Peg has been reported in outburst on Feb 1 at 12.5 by members of AAVSO and request our confirmation. In response to our appeal, Taichi Kato, Japan confirmed the outburst using CCD at Ouda. The star was recorded at V=12.8 on the TV monitor at Feb 3.387UT. Guy M Hurst