SIMBAD references

S. P. S. Eyres, University of Central Lancashire; T. J. O'Brien and T. W. B. Muxlow, University of Manchester; M. F. Bode, Liverpool John Moores University; and A. Evans, Keele University, report the detection of RS Oph in the radio. On Feb. 17.5 UT (4.7 days after the reported outburst; cf. IAUC 8671), Very Large Array (VLA) observations show fluxes of 2.8 ± 0.2 mJy at 21.1 cm, 15.2 ± 0.2 mJy at 6.2 cm, 23.2 ± 0.6 mJy at 2 cm, and 26.2 ± 0.5 mJy at 1.3 cm. Observations with MERLIN show 5-cm fluxes of 31.2 ± 0.9 mJy on Feb. 18 and 39.5 ± 0.9 mJy on Feb. 20. This is much brighter than anticipated at this stage when compared with observations of the 1985 outburst (23 mJy on day 18 of outburst; cf. Padin, Davis, and Bode 1985, Nature 315, 306). Further VLA, MERLIN, VLBA, and EVN observations are being scheduled. All observers are urged to secure spectroscopic and photometric observations of this star over the next few days, weeks, and months.