Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 5122: 1990ae; X-RAY N GRS 0831-429; N IN M31
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Circular No. 5122
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 or GREEN@CFA.BITNET MARSDEN or GREEN@CFAPS2.SPAN
SUPERNOVA 1990ae IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
B. Leibundgut and R. P. Kirshner, Center for Astrophysics,
report that a spectrum (range 350-720 nm) obtained by A. Zabludoff
(CfA) with the MMT (Oct. 19.3 UT) confirms the classification of
SN 1990ae as a type-II supernova. H-alpha shows strong emission
(width about 9800 km/s) and strong P-Cyg lines of H-beta and H-
gamma are present. The position of the supernova as read from
the telescope is R.A. = 0h20m16s.6, Decl. = +6 32'28" (equinox
1950.0).
X-RAY NOVA GRS 0831-429
R. Sunyaev on behalf of the GRANAT Team (Space Research
Institute, Moscow, and the Danish Space Research Institute,
Lyngby) reports: "WATCH detector data, obtained during Feb. 7, 8,
23, and Mar. 2, 11, and 15, show the presence of a strong x-ray
transient, situated 6 deg away from the well-known pulsar Vela X-1,
at R.A. = 8h31m +/- 3m, Decl. = -42.9 +/- 0.5 deg (equinox 1950.0;
determined using the rotation modulation collimator). The flux in
the energy range 5- to 15-keV was comparable to that of the Crab
Nebula and was greater than the average flux from Vela X-1. During
Feb. 23 and Mar. 2 sessions, Crab and Vela X-1 were also
detected in the field-of-view (1 pi sr solid angle) of the
instrument, while during the Feb. 7, 8, and Mar. 11 sessions, only
Vela X-1 and GRS 0831-429 were in the field-of-view. For observations
made on 1990 Jan. 25-26, the upper limit for the flux of GRS
0831-429 was 45 mCrab. The flux was weak during Feb. 5-7. During
100 000 s of observations on Feb. 7 and 8, the flux from the
discovered source rose from 70 to 250 mCrab. On Feb. 23 and Mar. 2
the flux was about 1 Crab; on Mar. 11, GRS 0831-429 was still
brighter than Vela X-1. The nearest transient x-ray source, 4U
0836-42 (R.A. = 8h36m12s, Decl. = -42 36'.9), was always much
weaker than the Crab. However its position is inside our 3-sigma
error box for GRS 0831-429 (but outside the 1-sigma box). According
to its lightcurve, GRS 0831-429 most likely is an x-ray nova.
In that case, data on the archival optical plates taken in 1990
Feb. and Mar. might give a better location."
NOVA IN M31
J. Bryan, Georgetown, TX, corrects the position of the object
reported on IAUC 5121 to R.A. = 0h40m20s, Decl. = +41 00'.6 (equinox
1950.0); on Oct. 19.1 UT, B [19.4.
1990 October 22 (5122) Daniel W. E. Green
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