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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1038      1996 Jan 29 07.18UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England. Telephone/FAX(0256)471074 Int:+44256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK             GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK
WORLD WIDE WEB                    http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer
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COMET 1996 B1
Edward W. Szczepanski, Houston, TX, reports his discovery of a
comet, observations of which are available as follows:
     1996 UT           R.A. (2000) Decl.        m1       Observer
     Jan. 27.455      14 08.0      +53 54      10.5     Szczepanski
          28.33       14 05.2      +53 44       9.3      Drake
          28.375      14 04.9      +53 43                Mitchell
          28.415      14 04.8      +53 45                Hale
          28.449      14 04.6      +53 45       8.2        "
E. W. Szczepanski (Houston Astronomical Society).  0.10-m refractor
   and 300-mm camera lens.  50-min exposures show diffuse, trailed
   images similar in appearance to NGC 5474, 30' to southwest.
IAUC 6296

SUPERNOVA 1996A IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
B. P. Schmidt, Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories,
reports the discovery of a supernova by R. O. Evans on a U.K.
Schmidt R film taken by P. Cass on Jan. 12 as part of the
U.K. Schmidt Supernova Search.  SN 1996A, of mag about 18,
is located at R.A. = 5h10m47s.1, Decl. = -3d00'25" (equinox
2000.0), in an anonymous galaxy.  It is offset 1"east and 4"south
from a mag 14 star located on top of the galaxy's nucleus. It is
not visible on a similar film taken 1995 Dec. 12.
IAUC 6289

SUPERNOVA 1996B IN NGC 4357
A. Dimai, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, reports the discovery by
Alessandro Gabrijelcic (Agordo, Italy) of a possible supernova near
an H II region in NGC 4357, 25" west and 5" south of the galaxy's
core.  The object is of magnitude 17.5-18.0 and has been recorded
on three CCD images since its discovery on Jan. 16.9, most recently
on Jan. 19.9.  Comparison by G. V. Williams, Harvard-Smithsonian
Center for Astrophysics (CfA), of the Jan. 19.9 image with the
Digital Sky Survey indeed shows a new object on the former at
R.A. = 12h23m56s.6, Decl. = +48d46'42" (equinox 2000), the
position of the galaxy's core having end figures 58s.8, 46".
A. Riess and R. Kirshner, CfA, also confirm the object on a V-band
CCD image obtained on Jan. 21.49 UT by A. Milone with the 1.2-m
reflector at Mt. Hopkins.
IAUC 6292

TASV J2352+665
Glyn Marsh, Catforth, UK e-mails:
Images of the above object have benn recorded on two sequential
10min exposures taken 1995 Nov 26.81UT using a 12-inch focus f/4
Taylor-Hobson lens +yellow filter with hypered Kodak 6415 film.
Using sequence TA960114 in conjunction with GUIDE (v4.0), the
object is estimated at 11.5 mpv. Star F (GSC 4293 267) at 11.6 and
star GSC 4293 178 at 12.3 are shown. The object definitely shows
a stronger image than star G.
Repeat photographs, again 2x10min exposures, taken on
1995 Dec 14.93 using the same equipment as above do not record the
object. Although the quality of the images is not as good as those
of 1995 Nov 26, star GSC 4293 178  at 12.3 is shown as is star GSC
4293 1032 at 13.7 The object can be confidently stated as being
<13.0.
Guy M Hurst