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IAUC 6080: GRS 1915+105; X-RAY N IN Sco; SATURN

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                                                  Circular No. 6080
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)


GRS 1915+105
     S. Sazonov and R. Sunyaev, Space Research Institute, Moscow,
on behalf of the Granat WATCH team, communicate:  "We are currently
observing a strong outburst from GRS 1915+105.  Preliminary average
flux estimates for Sept. 14.5, 17, 18, and 19 UT are 780 +/- 40,
460 +/- 50, 560 +/- 30, and 830 +/- 40 mCrab, respectively, in the
energy band 8-20 keV.  The previous WATCH observation of GRS
1915+105 in its high state was in March (IAUC 5959), when the flux
reached 400 mCrab and a superluminal radio source appeared,
according to Mirabel and Rodriguez (1994, Nature 371, 46)."
     N. Alexandrovich, K. Borozdin, and R. Sunyaev, on behalf of
the MIR-KVANT-TTM team, report:  "Strong x-ray flux from GRS
1915+105 was registered by the TTM coded-mask instrument onboard
the MIR space station during observations on Sept. 8 (500 mCrab at
5 keV), 10 (460 mCrab), and 11 (840 mCrab).  The spectrum of the
source is very soft (black-body fit gives the radiation temperature
as 1.25 +/- 0.05 keV with absorption column NH = 2 x 10E22 cmE-2).
The observation of Sept. 11 showed the appearance of the hard tail
with flux 140 +/- 30 mCrab in the spectral band 17-25 keV, in
addition to the soft component."


X-RAY NOVA IN SCORPIUS
     R. Gonzalez, University of California at Berkeley; D. Martins,
University of Alaska; and C. Bailyn and J. Orosz, Yale University,
write:  "The recent secondary outburst of GRO 1655-40 (IAUC 6075,
6077, 6079) does not appear to have resulted in substantial changes
in the V-band magnitude of the optical counterpart, as shown by the
following CCD observations obtained with the Cerro Tololo 0.9-m
reflector:  Sept. 9.046 UT, V = 15.09; 10.041, 14.97; 11.032, 15.05;
15.076, V = 15.19, V-I = +1.93.  Further monitoring of the decline
of this object is strongly encouraged."


SATURN
     Further to their comments on IAUC 6079, A. Sanchez-Lavega et
al. note that the spot reported on IAUC 6059 at about -60o has
expanded toward the east while becoming less reflective; on Aug.
28.1, it had increased its length to about 50o, retaining a bright
nucleus of about 5o that drifts -3o.5/day relative to System III.


1994 September 21              (6080)            Daniel W. E. Green

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