------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 910 1994 Dec 29 19.02UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074 INTERNET: GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK or GMH at GXVG.AST.CAM.AC.UK ------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPERNOVA 1994ai IN NGC 908 A. Williams and R. Martin report their discovery at the Perth Observatory of an apparent supernova located about 24" east and 4" north of the centre of NGC 908 (R.A. = 2h20m46s, Decl. = -21o27'.6, equinox 1950.0). The object was found on an image taken on Dec. 20.52 UT in the course of the Perth Astronomy Research Group's automated supernova search. Estimated unfiltered magnitudes: Dec.8, [19; 16, 17-18; 20.52, 16-17. IAUC 6120 EX HYDRAE A. Jones, Nelson, New Zealand, reports that this cataclysmic variable is in outburst, as indicated by his visual magnitude estimates: Dec. 24.58 UT, 13:; 25.60, 9.6; 25.64, 9.4. IAUC 6120 Taichi Kato, Japan comments via e-mail that this well-known eclipsing intermediate polar below the period gap is in urgent need of observation. V1413 AQUILAE Further to the notes on E901 and E902, further estimates have been obtained by John Bortle, Stormville, USA: 1994 Dec 1.97UT, 14.8; 9.0, [14.1; 20.97, 14.5; 26.96, 13.3. John comments that the data suggests that the eclipse spanned about 35 days, with mid-eclipse occurring on or near Dec 8UT. KR AURIGAE John Bortle also reports that this S Doradus-type star is finally descending into its long-awaited 'low' state. The normal 'up' magnitude is about 13.5. Observations by John follow: 1994 Nov 3.15UT, 13.7; Dec 1.07, 14.5; 3.14, 14.5; 22.03, 14.6; 26.15, 14.8; 27.04, 15.5. Guy M Hurst