Peculiar Variable in Sagittarius

On Mar. 28 T. Hirayama, National Astronomical Observatory, Tokyo, reported the discovery by M. Wakuda (Ryuyu, Shizuoka) on Mar. 14.825 UT of an object of mag about 10.7 (T-Max 400 film, green filter) at R.A. = 18h51m43s, Decl. = -19d45'.9 (equinox 1950.0, uncertainty 10"). T. Kato, Kyoto University, reports that M. Yamamoto (Okazaki, Aichi) has photographic records showing the object's apparent variability over mag 10.5-11.5 (PO0 filter) since 1993 Mar. 29 but no earlier detection (and no brighter than mag 12.5 through 1992, according to Wakuda). Preliminary reduction of photometry by A. C. Gilmore at Mt. John Observatory on 1994 Mar. 30.72 UT gives V = 10.61, U-B = -0.23, B-V = +0.50, V-R = +0.35, V-I = +0.60 (uncertainty generally +/- 0.05 but up to +/- 0.1 in U-B). E. K. Grebel, European Southern Observatory; and H. W. Duerbeck, Astronomical Institute, Munster, report spectroscopic observations on Mar. 30.4 with the ESO/MPI 2.2-m telescope and EFOSC-II. A low-resolution spectrum (range 340-920 nm, resolution 0.84 nm) shows emission lines of H alpha, H beta and the infrared Ca II (2) triplet, superimposed on a somewhat veiled late-K-giant continuum. A high-resolution spectrum (range 352-547 nm, resolution 0.19 nm) shows the Ca II H and K lines in absorption, as well as narrow (FWHM less than +/- 250 km/s) emission lines of H beta and Fe II lines (multiplets 41, 42, 48 and 49). The absence of blueshifted absorption lines and the narrowness of the emission lines suggest that the object is a symbiotic nova in a slightly progressed state.