In the 1980s, prominent broad lines appeared in the optical spectrum of a black-hole system called Mrk 1018. The leading explanation for this change is that the accretion rate onto the black hole increased, energizing more of the gas and expanding the size of the broad-line region. But in 2016 it was found that in the past five years, Mrk 1018 has returned to its original state. This transition is thought to be due to a decrease in the black-hole accretion rate.

600/800mm - 24" (12/28/16): at 432x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated N-S, 25"x20". Two 13th magnitude stars are 50" NW and 1.0' W and a mag 14.5 star is 1.0' ESE. IC 1781 is 16' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb