Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 5529: N Sco 1992; N Sgr 1992; 1991a1
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Read IAUC 5530
Circular No. 5529
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Telephone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only)
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM EASYLINK 62794505
MARSDEN@CFA or GREEN@CFA (.SPAN, .BITNET or .HARVARD.EDU)
NOVA SCORPII 1992
M. Della Valle and A. Smette, European Southern Observatory,
report: "Spectrograms (range 390-720, resolution about 0.1 nm) of
Nova Sco 1992 (cf. IAUC 5526, 5527) were obtained under non-photometric
conditions on May 25.4 and 26.4 UT with the 3.6-m telescope
(+ EFOSC) at La Silla. Preliminary analysis of the spectra reveals
weak absorptions of H-beta, H-gamma, and H-delta, and a narrow H-
alpha emission line, coupled with a weak P-Cyg absorption. The
expansion velocity deduced from the minimum of the P-Cyg absorption
is about 700 km/s. A careful comparison of CCD frames, obtained
with the same equipment, with the prints of the SERC J survey shows
the probable progenitor as a star of mag about 18. The outburst
amplitude (about 11 mag) and its spectrum suggest that this may be
a nova caught in a pre-maximum stage."
M. A. Dopita, L. Drissen, D. Wickramasinghe, J. F. Bell, and
G. S. Da Costa, report: "A spectrogram (range 390-700 nm, resolution
0.9 nm) of the suspected nova in Scorpius was taken on May
29.47 UT at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The observation reveals
a rich emission-line spectrum, dominated by the Balmer lines
and by lines of Fe II. The Fe II lines are narrow, and the H-alpha
line has a width of 800 km/s at FWHM and 3300 km/s at FWZI. The
continuum rises to the red, and the Balmer decrement is steep,
suggesting a large reddening. The general characteristics of the
spectrum are similar to a FU Ori-type star in outburst, but given
the large change in brightness, and the relatively large Balmer
line width, this object is almost certainly a nova of the iron-type."
NOVA SAGITTARII 1992
N. M. Ashok, T. Chandrasekhar, and S. Ragland, Physical
Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, report: "Infrared observations were
made as described by Ashok et al. on IAUC 5525. Nova Sgr 1992 was
in an optically thin phase on Mar. 17.99 UT, when we measured J =
8.08, H = 7.59, and K = 7.36."
COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY (1991a1)
Total visual magnitude estimates (cf. IAUC 5519): May 12.33
UT, 10.1 (J. E. Bortle, Stormville, NY, 0.32-m reflector); 13.09,
11.5 (H. Mikuz, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 0.20-m reflector); 29.32, 9.5
(Bortle).
1992 May 29 (5529) Daniel W. E. Green
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