Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3328: X-RAY FLARE IN Nor; NEW GALAXIES OF THE LOCAL GROUP; PKS 1510-08
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Read IAUC 3329
Circular No. 3328
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-864-5758
X-RAY FLARE IN NORMA
L. J. Kaluzienski and S. S. Holt, Goddard Space Flight Center,
report the detection of an x-ray flare from the Norma region of the
galactic plane with the Ariel 5 all-sky monitor. The source is
centered (error radius ~ 2o) on the position of the recurrent transient
4U 1608-52 (the 'Norma transient'). The brightening apparently
commenced some time between Jan. 28 and 31, with 3-6-keV
fluxes of <~ 0.05, 0.1 +/- 0.05 and 0.3 +/- 0.06 times the Crab Nebula
being recorded during fine-mode observations on Jan. 27, Jan. 31
and Feb. 2, respectively. Subsequent coarse-mode monitoring of
this region, though hampered by source confusion, indicates that
the source has remained bright through Feb. 7. If confirmed, the
identification of the flaring object with 4U 1608-52 would represent
the first known outburst from this source since 1977 July (cf.
IAUC 3090, 3099).
NEW GALAXIES OF THE LOCAL GROUP
T. X. Thuan and G. Martin, University of Virginia, report 21-cm
H I observations at Arecibo Observatory of the dwarf galaxies
discovered by Kowal, Lo and Sargent (IAUC 3305). All five galaxies
were searched in the velocity range from -1000 to +6100 km/s. Only
LGS 3 (R.A. = 1h01m.2, Decl. = +21o37', equinox 1950.0) was detected and
its heliocentric velccity found to be -277 +/- 8 km/s. This velocity
and the resolution of LGS 3 into stars on the Palomar Sky Survey
prints confirm it to be a rew member of the Local Group. A possible
feature at heliocentric velocity -114 km/s was detected for LGS
4 (R.A. = 0h16m.2, Decl. = +30o13', equinox 1950.0), but drift scans are
needed to distinguish it from galactic H I.
PKS 1510-08
B. H. Andrew, J. M. Macleod and P. A. Feldman, Herzberg Institute
of Astrophysics, report the detection, with the Algonquin
Radio Observatory's 46-m telescope, of a large radio outburst at
2.8 cm in the quasi-stellar object PKS 1510-08. After remaining at
~ 1.5 Jy for the first half of 1978, the flux density rose from
1.70 Jy on Aug. 30 throuoh 2.65 Jy on Dec. 22 to 4.80 Jy on 1979
Jan. 31. The flux density of 4.80 Jy at 2.8 cm is the highest
recorded in this source during 12 years of regular observations.
1979 February 12 (3328) Brian G. Marsden
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