NGC 3031

P. Barr and P. Giommi, EXOSAT Observatory, report that EXOSAT observations of the nearby emission-line galaxy NGC 3031 (M81) on Feb. 21 have revealed an increase in the soft x-ray (0.1-4.5 keV) flux by a factor of five, and in the 2-6-keV flux by a factor of three, compared to Einstein Observatory measurements obtained during 1978/79. The 0.3-10-keV luminosity of NGC 3031 is now ~ 1.0 x 10**34 J/s. In addition, variability by up to 50 percent on a timescale < 1 hr was detected. It is thus possible that Seyfert-type activity may have commenced in this source, and optical observations of its nuclear regions are urged.