THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
               25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
                    INTERNET:  aavso@aavso.org
               Tel. 617-354-0484       FAX 617-354-0665


               AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 240 (June 9, 1997)


1747-30 NOVA IN SCORPII 1997

We have been informed by William (Bill) Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile  of his
photographic discovery of a nova in Scorpius on June 5.085 UT at magnitude 
8.5, using the PROBLICOM method.  The discovery photograph was
taken with Technical Pan film and an orange filter. His CCD observation 
with broad V filter of the nova on June 6.120 UT indicated it to be at 
magnitude 9.0 using comparison stars from the Guide Star Catalog. 
Nothing brighter than magnitude 11.5 appeared on a photograph taken on 
June 2.09.  

M. Cavagna, Italy reports the following precise position of the nova 
from a CCD image obtained on June 7.011 UT using 0.5-m  reflector 
(IAU Circ. 6678):

   R.A. = 17h54m11s.22 , Decl. = -30o02'53".0 (equinox 2000) 

The Digital Sky Survey shows no definite object at this location.  However,
a USNO A1.0 star of magnitude R = 18.7, B = 19.0 has position end figures 
11s.53, 54".3.

Spectroscopic observations of the object by M. Fujii and H. Kawakita, Japan 
on June 7.62 UT using 0.28-m reflector show strong and broad H-alpha emission 
lines (IAU Circ. 6678). 

A. C. Gilmore, Mt. John University Observatory, New Zealand reports the 
nova at photoelectric magnitude  V = 10.48 +/- 0.01 on June 7.507 UT.

Visual magnitude estimates reported to the Central Bureau of Astronomical 
Telegrams (IAU Circ. 6678) are as follows: June 7.15 UT, 10.1 (A. Pereira, 
Spain); 7.991, 9.8 (K. Hornoch, Czech Republic); 8.12, 10.9 (Pereira); 7.99, 
10.4 (M. Plsek, Czech Republic).

Accompanying is a CCD image kindly provided by William Liller which shows
the field of the nova.  Also accompanying is an AAVSO 'd' scale preliminary
chart of Nova Sco 1997, prepared by C. Scovil. Please use this chart to 
observe the nova, and report your observations of 1747-30 N Sco 1997 to 
AAVSO Headquarters, making sure to indicate which comparison stars you used.

Congratulations to Bill on his latest discovery!


CHARTS AVAILABLE ON AAVSO FTP SITE

Electronic copies of the CCD image and AAVSO 'd' scale preliminary chart 
of Nova Sco 1997 mentioned in this Alert Notice are available from our 
FTP site:

            ftp.aavso.org (198.116.78.2), in /pub/alerts/alert240

The chart may also be accessed through our Web site at the following address:

                         http://www.aavso.org


The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on nights and weekends for your
convenience.  Please call our charge-free number (800-642-3883) to report your
observations.  If you are cut off when you telephone in your observations,
please wait a few minutes and call back to complete your call.  We have learned
that if someone calls to leave observations on the answering machine and while
they are speaking someone else calls, the first person may be cut off.  We
also encourage observers to send observations by fax to 617-354-0665 or by
e-mail through the Internet to observations@aavso.org.  We would appreciate it
very much if you would report your observations in Universal Time.

Many thanks for your valuable astronomical contributions and your efforts.

Good observing!


Janet A. Mattei
Director