Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3206: HEAO-1 Obs; N IN LMC; N Ser 1978
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Read IAUC 3207
Circular No. 3206
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Cable Address: SATELLITES, NEWYORK Telex: 921428
Telephone: (617) 864-5758
HEAO-1 OBSERVATIONS
G. J. Fishman writes: "The HEAO-1 spacecraft continues to
operate very well. Pointed observations are being made about 4 to 5
times per week for 3 to 6 hours. At all other times the spacecraft
will be in its normal scanning mode: 90o from the sun with a rotation
period of ~ 35 min. The latest pointing information may be
obtained from one of the HEAO-1 investigators or from me at the
address: NASA Headquarters, Code SC-7, Washington, DC 20546, U.S.A.
(telephone 202-755-3616). Upcoming objects for which simultaneous
optical and radio coverage would be desirable include AM Her (Apr.
l8d06h00m-18d12h00m UT) and YZ CMi (Apr. 20d14h00m-20d20h00m UT)."
NOVA IN LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD
J. A. Graham, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, reports:
"The probable nova (IAUC 3204) has been confirmed. The spectrum on
the discovery plate, taken by H. Rojas on Mar. 29.0 UT, appears
normal for a nova several days past maximum. The B magnitude on this
plate is estimated to be 13.0 +/- 0.2. Photoelectric photometry by A.
Landolt gives the preliminary values: Mar. 30.050 UT, V = 13.35,
B-V = -0.03, U-B = -0.73; Apr. 1.021, 14.51, -0.24, -0.80; a direct
plate taken on Apr. 2.0 by Landolt indicates V ~ 15.0. A Curtis
Schmidt survey plate (with objective prism, dispersion 300 A/mm)
taken on Mar. 17.0 shows at the position of the nova faint but very
definite emission lines superposed on a barely detectable continuous
spectrum that corresponds to a B magnitude of about 15. Narrow emission
lines of H-beta, H-gamma and H-delta are identified at this premaximum
phase, as is a broad feature near 4680 A. Neither the emission
lines nor the continuum are seen on earlier plates of the region.
Observations currently available suggest that the nova reached
maximum on Mar. 19 or 20 at magnitude 10 and that the decline has been
very fast, averaging 0.5 magnitude per day. Further observations
would be extremely useful for a definitive interpretation."
NOVA SERPENTIS 1978
J. Mattei, American Association of Variable Star Observers,
communicates the following visual magnitude estimates, by J. Morgan,
Prescott, Arizona, derived with respect to a preliminary AAVSO
sequence: Mar. 25.51 UT, 9.4; 26.53, 9.5; 27.51, 9.4; 28.49, 9.6;
29.51, 9.5; 30.51, 9.0; 31.48, 9.8; Apr. 3.51, 10.0.
1978 April 10 (3206) Brian G. Marsden
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