QSO 0716+332

B. Wills, Department of Astronomy, University of Texas, Austin, reports a visual-light outburst of this radio source (1950.0 position from University of Texas Radio Astronomy Observatory Sky Survey, +/- 1" : R.A. = 7h16m04.5s, Decl. = +33deg12'42"), as indicated by the following magnitudes: 19 (Palomar Sky Survey photo); 1981 Dec.- 1985 Feb. (one or more occasions), 20 or fainter; 1986 Feb. 6, ~ 17 (A. Crotts, McDonald Obs.); Mar. 13, 15.5 (D. Wills, McDonald Observatory). The spectrum is featureless except for a probable absorption doublet near 361.9 nm. A finding chart was published by Condon et al. (1979, A.J. 84, 149). D X ORIONIS D. P. Hayes, Astronomy Department, Columbia University, writes that the Be star X Ori (HD 37490) recently displayed a large increase in linear polarization. On Jan. 29, the star's intrinsic polarization was 0.0 percent, but by Mar. 16 it had increased to a value of 0.63 percent. Polarization observations of this star will continue through mid-April.