Circular No. 5005 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 HD 34664 S. N. Shore, Computer Sciences Corporation, communicates: " International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) low-dispersion observations of the luminous extreme-emission-line Large Magellanic Cloud supergiant HD 34664 = LH(alpha) 120-S22 = MWC 105 = Sk 64-67 (R.A. = 5h14m.0, Decl. = -67 30', equinox 1950.0; cf. Henize 1956, Ap.J. Suppl. 2, 315; Sanduleak 1970, Contrib. CTIO No. 89) taken on Apr. 15.6 and 24.0 UT show that the star has recently undergone massive shell ejection. The 120- to 330-nm integrated flux is 2.70 x 10E-10 erg cmE-2 sE-1, compared with archival data (1981 Sept. 28.5) having an integrated 120- to 330-nm flux of 4.28 x 10E-10 erg cmE-2 sE-1. The 1981-to-1990 flux ratio is 1.7 longward of 160 nm, and between 1.7 and 3.4 shortward of 160 nm, with a peak opacity enhancement at about 140 nm, consistent with deep Fe II absorption. Fe II bands at 157, 161, and 180 nm are much stronger now than in 1981; Mg II 280- nm and Mg I 284-nm emission may be weakly present. O I 130-nm emission may also be present, but this feature is more likely a low- opacity window. There is an upper limit to the velocity difference in the absorption lines between the two spectra of 80 km/s (120-290 nm). The Fine Error Sensor magnitude is 11.7, about the same as in 1981. HD 34664 has displayed one of the most extreme optical Fe II and [Fe II] emission spectra of any of the massive LMC supergiants. This star is likely now in the luminous blue variable shell ejection phase, having been stable during 1980-1983 when previous observations were obtained. Optical and infrared observers should be on alert for future, possibly dramatic, changes in this star." COMET AUSTIN (1989c1) C. M. Telesco and C. M. Benson, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA; and H. Campins and S. C. Tegler, University of Florida, report: "We have obtained the first thermal infrared images of comet Austin. The observations were made at 10.8 microns using the MSFC spatial bolometer array at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Apr. 30.6 and May 1.6 UT. The maximum dimensions spanned by the maps are approximately 80" (in R.A.) x 30" (in Decl.). A preliminary reduction indicates a peak flux density (identical on both dates) of 23 +/- 2 Jy in a 4".2 x 4".2 pixel. The extended emission shows a higher flux density west of the nucleus. The flux densities near the edge of the maps are typically 0.5 Jy/pixel." 1990 May 3 (5005) Daniel W. E. Green
Our Web policy. Index to the CBAT/MPC/ICQ pages.