LQ Sagittarii

P. Zhao and J. E. McClintock, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; and A. U. Landolt, Louisiana State University, write: "LQ Sgr, a poorly known nova, is now in outburst; it is about 5 mag brighter in B than it was during quiescence. Its spectrum, obtained at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO) 4-m telescope on July 2.3 UT, is that of an M giant. LQ Sgr is probably a symbiotic nova (i.e., RR-Tel class). During its eruption in 1897, it reached B = 13. Observations with the CTIO 1-m and 0.91-m telescopes give the following magnitudes and colors: July 5.23, V = 14.33, B-V = +1.57, U-B = +0.75; 6.24, V = 14.38, B-V = +1.55, U-B = +0.85, V-R = +1.98, R-I = +2.69, V-I = +4.67; 8.20, V = 14.40, B-V = +1.56, U-B = +0.87."