Dear VSNET'ers Recent observations made by BAA VSS observers indicate that Markarian 421 is undergoing an 'outburst'. Checking through the BAAVSS database - which goes back to 1981 for M421 - this is approaching the brightest that Markarian 421 has been recorded. The following observations are available... Oct 18.069 UT mv=13.0 G. Poyner Birmingham UK, 40cm Nov 08.072 12.6 W. Worraker Didcot UK, 26cm 08.127 12.3 Poyner 08.223 12.6 J. Toone Cressage, UK 20cm SCT 10.134 12.3 Poyner 10.228 12.4 Toone regards, Gary Poyner Director, BAAVSS