Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 4964: N LMC 1990 No. 2; N LMC 1990 No. 1; 1990a
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Circular No. 4964
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)
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NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1990 No. 2
R. Williams, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, reports the
discovery by W. Liller, Vina del Mar, of a nova of mag 11.2 (Kodak 2415
film) in the LMC on a PROBLICOM exposure on Feb. 14.1 UT. The following
position was obtained with the 4-m CTIO reflector: R.A. = 5h10m41s.8,
Decl. = -71d43'27" (equinox 1950.0). This supports Liller's suggestion
that the nova is recurrent, in that it appears to be coincident with
N LMC 1968 (Sievers 1970, Inf. Bull. Variable Stars No. 448). CTIO 4-m
Argus spectra by M. Shara and A. Moffat show strong, broad double-peaked
Balmer lines, and He I and He II 468.6 nm lines with expansion velocities
of 5500 km/s. CCD photometry by L. Wells and S. Heathcote on the 0.9-m
telescope gives V = 12.0, B-V = +0.16 on Feb. 15.1. It is suggested that
this outburst will mimic the 1968 outburst in having a very rapid decline.
NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1990 No. 1
M. A. Dopita and S. J. Rawlings, Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring
Observatories, report: "Spectroscopic data (range 330-780 nm) were
obtained nightly during Jan. 21-30 using the Double-Beam Spectrograph on
the 2.3-m ATT operated by MSSSO at Siding Spring. At no time during this
period did the hydrogen lines show a P-Cyg profile, but they remained as
flat-topped emission features with a width of 5600 km/s (FWHM). The
hydrogen emission weakened with respect to the continuum while the Balmer
decrement became more shallow. The continuum itself became bluer. Lines
of He I were prominent early on, but the He II line became progressively
stronger until by Jan. 30 it was as strong as H Beta. On Jan. 22 the
[Ne III] lines started to appear, and by Jan. 29 the 386.8-nm line was
stronger than H Beta. On this date the [Ne V] 342.6-nm line also started
to appear. A single spectrum (range 330-560 nm) was obtained on the
1.8-m at Mount Stromlo on Feb. 13.44 UT. This showed the [Ne V] line as
the strongest emission feature in the spectrum. The structure of the
He II feature suggests that [Ne IV] lines are also strong. All neon
lines show double peaked profiles. It is difficult to avoid the
conclusion that neon is highly overabundant in the ejecta."
PERIODIC COMET WILD 4 (1990a)
Corrigendum. The magnitude estimates attributed to R. H. McNaught
on IAUC 4963 were made by A. Pearce.
1990 February 15 (4964) Gareth V. Williams
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