COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
             INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                            NUMBER 45

                                           Konkoly Observatory
                                           Budapest
                                           4 March 1964

                        NOVA PUPPIS 1963

                1875.0   7h 58m 16s -28deg 7'.6
                1900.0   7  59  17  -28    11.6


      I found this object on plates from the Astrograph 400/1600 mm.
The Nova is invisible 1962 Dec 5, 6, 7 (fainter than 17m), bright 1963
Jan 20. On Sky Patrol plates invisibility was observed 1962 Dec 25
and 28, the star being fainter than 11m; it appears first 1963 Jan 18,
7m.8. Its behaviour seems to be that of a slow Nova: 1963 Jan 18, 20
about 0m.6 brighter than CoD -28d5372 (8.m3), Sp. A2, ptg. 8.4m, Jan
30 about 8m.5, Feb 23, 24, 27 8m.0, March 17 8m.0, March 23 about
10m. On 20 Astrograph plates 1963 Dec 20 to 1964 Feb 14 the Nova is
about 16m, practically without further decline. The first rise probably
occurred during the time of moonlight (full moon Jan 10, last quarter
Jan 17, 1963). On Palomar Atlas the praenova is visible as a bluish
star of about 18m.5. Further information will be given in Astronomische
Nachrichten.


Sonneberg Observatory, February 24, 1964.

                                           C. HOFFMEISTER