COMMISSION 27 OF THE I. A. U.
           INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                       Number 2232

                                            Konkoly Observatory
                                            Budapest
                                            1982 November 22
                                            HU ISSN 0374-0676


                        VY AQUARII

  This recurrent nova (1907, 1962) appears to be in outburst on chart
225 of the Papadopoulos True Visual Magnitude Star Atlas. The image is
elongated with the same shape and direction as stellar images and its
position as measured from the paper chart is coincident (three arcseconds
distant, approximately the error of measurement) with the precise position

RA (1950)   21h 09m 28.33s
DEC (1950) -09deg 01' 56".3

  ACCURACY +/- 0".3

measured by A. S.-Czerny (RGO) from a glass copy of the PSS.

  The plate (chart 225) was exposed on 1973 July 31 at 21h34m UT and
the image is of mag +9.7 in comparison with a published photometry of
nearby stars, Vogt (1980). This is about three magnitudes above the chart
limit. The original plate has not yet been checked.

  Previous outbursts have occurred in August 1907 and August 1962, an
interval of 55.0 years. Should the 1973 outburst be confirmed (11.0 years
after the 1962 outburst) a recurrence period of 11 years is suggested with
the next outburst possibly in 1984.

  A check of plates taken in 1973 would be valuable, and if confirmed,
a check of other plates may produce further outbursts.

The following references contain identification charts for VY Aqr.

  The "outburst" was found whilst preparing charts for the TA/BAA Nova
Search Programme and the writer wishes to thank A.S.-Czerny and the RGO
for the use of facilities.



      ROBERT H. McNAUGHT

     Earth Satellite Research Unit
     Royal Greenwich Observatory
     Herstmonceux Castle
     Herstmonceux
     Nr. Hailsham
     East Sussex
     United Kingdom.

References:

Kukarkin, B.V., 1968, Astro. Tsirk., 479 [BIBCODE 1968ATsir.479....8K ]
Vogt, N., 1980, Publ V.S.S. of R.A.S.N.Z., 8, 8-16
Wyckoff, S. and Wehinger, P.A., 1978, PASP, 90, 557-562 [BIBCODE 1978PASP...90..557W ]