SMC X-2 and SMC X-3

F. Li, G. Jernigan and G. Clark, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, report that SAS 3 has detected two new x-ray sources in the Small Magellanic Cloud: 2S 0052-739 (SMC X-2), located at R.A. = 0h52m54s.5, Decl. = -73o56'58"; and 2S 0050-727 (SMC X-3), located at R.A. = 0h52m21s.2, Decl. = -72o42'01" (equinox 1950.0; 90-percent-confidence error radii 25"). Their average energy fluxes in the spectral range 2-10 keV during the period of observation Oct. 11-16 were 1.6 and 1.1 x 10**-10 erg cm**-2 s**-1, respectively. The corresponding luminosities at an assumed distance of 65 kpc are 8 and 6 x 10**37 erg s**-1. The sources are probably variable since they were not detected in previous observations. An immediate search for optical or radio counterparts is therefore advisable.