Circular No. 5362 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 NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1991 S. Shore, Computer Sciences Corporation and Goddard Space Flight Center; S. Starrfield, Arizona State University; and G. Sonneborn, Goddard Space Flight Center, report: "Low-dispersion spectra (115.0-200.0 nm, resolution 0.6 nm) of Nova LMC 1991 were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite on Sept. 2.29 and 29.61 UT, when the integrated ultraviolet fluxes (120-195 nm) were 9.27 and 7.87 x 10E-12 erg sE-1 cmE-2, respective- ly. The value on Sept. 29 corresponds to a dereddened ultraviolet luminosity of 2000 L(sun) [assuming E(B-V) = 0.15 and a distance to the LMC of 55 kpc]. The ultraviolet spectrum obtained on Sept. 29 shows strong nebular emission lines with the following integrated fluxes (10E-12 erg sE-1 cmE-2): N V 120-nm, 22.9; N IV 149-nm, 12.1; C IV 155-nm, 12.9; N III] 175-nm, 6.66; and C III] 190-nm, 3.87. The FWHM of the stronger lines is 2700 km/s. He II 164-nm was absent on the Sept. 2 spectrum and weakly present on Sept. 29. The appearance of He II suggests that the far-ultraviolet optical depth of the ejected shell is decreasing. O III] 167-nm is also present but was too weak to measure. The changes in the emission line fluxes over the past few weeks indicate that the ionization is continuing to increase, as both the N IV/N III and C IV/C III emis- sion line ratios have increased by 20 +/- 7 percent since Sept. 2, but N V/N IV has remained constant. The increase in ionization is expected from our previous studies of novae emission lines. Since the source became optically thin in Fe II about 100 days prior to these spectra, the integrated ultraviolet flux has remained virtual- ly constant even though the ionization state has steadily increased. We are continuing our IUE observations, and urge continued monitor- ing of this star by ground-based observers." PERIODIC COMET FAYE (1991n) Total visual magnitude estimates (cf. IAUC 5356): Oct. 3.09 UT, 10.2 (A. Pereira, Cabo da Roca, Portugal, 0.15-m reflector); 4.89, 9.9 (A. Boattini, Florence, Italy, 0.33-m reflector); 6.27, 9.8 (C. S. Morris, Lockwood Valley, CA, 0.51-m reflector; 10' tail in p.a. about 250 deg); 8.29, 9.6 (C. Spratt, Victoria, BC, 0.20-m reflec- tor); 9.11, 9.9 (J. E. Bortle, Stormville, NY, 0.32-m reflector). 1991 October 10 Daniel W. E. Green