[vsnet-chat 1478] Possible eruptive object in Scutum in 1981

[Guy M Hurst <guy@tahq.demon.co.uk>]

In message <199811160100.KAA10942@ceres.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>, Taichi
Kato <tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp> writes
>Dear Dirk,
>
>> In vsnet-obs, I regularly find a star called "Sct N81".  I suppose 
>> this is a nova from 1981 in the constellation Scutum, but is this 
>> true ?
>> 
>> Why do people still observe this star ?
>> 
>> Could you please send an answer to my email address en not to one of 
>> the vsnet mailing lists because I just unsubscribed everything 
>> except vsnet-mira.
>> 
>> Thank you.
>
>   It's a suspected nova, for which only a few positive observations exist.
>Some people consider it to be a large-amplitude dwarf nova, and is still
>being monitored by a number of observers.
>
>Regards,
>Taichi Kato
>
Dear Taichi,
Lengthy accounts appear in 'The Astronomer' relating to this discovery.
 
Although most observers remain skeptical regarding its existence, I hold
the original maps drawn by Dave Branchett (who now lives in USA) in
which he plotted missing stars from Eclipticalis. One of these, observed
about two years before the main discovery, appears to be in the same
place as the later find. To my knowledge this may be the only case of a
'pre-discovery' observation by the same person!

Conventional photos by the late Alan Young, an amateur in England, in
1981 reached around mag 20 with his 22 inch reflector but still failed
to record any star which was not on the Palomar Sky Survey. If a genuine
object, an extraordinary range (around at least 12 mags) is noted
especially as it disappeared so fast!

As there remains a possibility that it is a recurrent object, it is
still checked by a few observers, mainly here in England.

If you need further specific details please let me know.
Regards,
Guy
----------------------------------------------------------------
Guy M Hurst, 16 Westminster Close, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,
England. Tel/FAX:(01256) 471074. International +441256471074
INTERNET:  guy@tahq.demon.co.uk  OR  gmh@uk.ac.rl.star.ast
WWW  http://vsnet.demon.co.uk/astronomer
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