Circular No. 5400
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 1991bg IN NGC 4374
     H. Kosai, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, communi-
cates the visual discovery by Reiki Kushida (Yatsugatake South Base
Observatory), using a 0.40-m f/5 reflector, of a supernova in NGC
4374 (M84); on Dec. 9.844 UT, she estimated that the object is about
80" from the galaxy's center, in p.a. 165 deg, with mv = 14.  Y.
Kushida provides the following accurate position for the supernova,
from photographs exposed Dec. 9.86 at the same site:  R.A. =
12h22m31s.54, Decl. = +13 08'52".4 (equinox 1950.0).  Approximate
photovisual magnitudes from Y. Kushida:  Nov. 17.802, [15.1; Dec.
3.777, 14.9; 9.860, 14.5; 10.804, 14.4.  On Dec. 10.8, using the
0.91-m reflector (+ multichannel photometer) at the Dodaira Station
of National Astronomical Observatory, T. Kato found that the super-
nova was at V about 14.3.  There is a foreground star of mag V =
14.7 some 80" from the galaxy's center toward the southwest.
     At the request of A. Filippenko (University of California at
Berkeley), following his discussions with the Central Bureau, the
Berkeley Automated Supernova Search Team obtained a CCD image of M84
on Dec. 12 UT; examination of the image by H. Newberg shows a stel-
lar object, located 57" south and < 2" east of the galaxy's center,
that was not present in earlier images of the galaxy.
 
 
DY PERSEI
     A. Alksnis, Radioastrophysical Observatory, Latvian Academy of
Sciences, reports:  "This carbon star, suspected to be an R CrB-type
variable, was observed with the Baldone Schmidt telescope and found
to be in a deep minimum: Dec. 2.74 UT, V = 15.7; 5.54, V = 15.7;
5.55, B = 17.0.  For a finding chart and information on previous
photometric behavior, see Investig. Sun and Red Stars 33, 83 (1990,
Riga)."
 
 
PERIODIC COMET WIRTANEN (1991s)
     Total visual magnitude estimates (cf. IAUC 5389):  Nov. 18.41
UT, 11.5 (J. E. Bortle, Stormville, NY, 0.32-m reflector); 18.52,
11.6 (A. Hale, Las Cruces, NM, 0.41-m reflector); Dec. 10.21, 13.9
(H. Mikuz, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, 0.36-m reflector).
 
 
1991 December 12                                  Daniel W. E. Green