------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1059 1996 Mar 17 11.17UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPERNOVAE P. Garnavich and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, on behalf of the High-Z Supernova Search Team, report the discovery of seven supernovae on CCD images taken at the Victor Blanco 4-m telescope at Cerro Tololo. Each supernova is within about 1" of its host galaxy's nucleus. Spectra were obtained by B. Leibundgut on Feb. 22 and 23 using the 3.6-m European Southern Observatory telescope. Following are given for each supernova the dates of their discovery frames, position, R magnitude, redshift, supernova type, and observing group (1 = N. Suntzeff, A. Clocchiatti, and B. Schmidt; 2 = 1 + E. Turner and A. Athey): SN 1996 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. R z type G 1996E Feb. 14 10h10m20s.28 -12o33'09"2 22.2 0.43 Ia (1) 1996F Feb. 14 10 50 03.62 - 9 22 30.2 22.5 0.44 II? (1) 1996G Feb. 14 12 28 53.84 - 0 04 44.6 23.3 0.41 II? (1) 1996H Feb. 14 12 28 52.78 - 0 05 41.0 22.8 0.62 Ia (1) 1996I Feb. 14 12 00 39.43 - 0 16 02.4 23.0 0.57 Ia (1) 1996J Feb. 20 10 10 33.21 -12 37 05.2 22.5 0.30 Ia (2) 1996K Feb. 20 8 24 43.49 - 0 21 06.2 23 0.38 Ia (2) IAUC 6332 DO DRA (Q1996/013) Eric Broens, Belgium, reports that this UG variable was brighter than usual on 1996 Mar 11.885UT at mv=14.6 (0.35-m refl.). Tony Vanmunster, Belgium confirmed this event on Mar 11.897UT at mv=14.6 (0.35-m refl.). M.Iida, Japan imaged the star on Mar 12.533UT and estimated it at mag 14.7 using 0.2-m refl. +ST6 with no filter. The star then apparently faded again according to Taichi Kato of Japan who recorded it at mag 15.45V (0.6-m refl. +CCD +V filter) It is many years since this star, which is on the Recurrent Objects Programme of the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol, reached a full outburst and the above observations may suggest minor activity before a major event. We urge observers to check the star regularly. UV PER (Q1996/014) This well-known UG star is in outburst according to a report by Eric Broens who observed it at mv=11.9 on Mar 14.836UT. This outburst was confirmed by Tony Vanmunster on Mar 14.882UT at mv=12.1. Eric Broens reports that it was fainter than 14.1 and not seen on Mar 13.824UT thus indicating the usual sharp rise to maximum seen in this variable. COMET C/1996 B2 HYAKUTAKE Recent observations: m1 dia 1996 Mar 7.12UT, 5.0 12' (B.Granslo, Norway, 10x50B). 1996 Mar 11.10UT, 4.6 14' (O.Skilbrei, Norway 7x50B) 1996 Mar 13.07UT, 3.6 60' (J.Shanklin, UK Naked eye) 1996 Mar 14.08UT, 4.3 18' (J.Aguiar, Brazil, 11x80B) 1996 Mar 14.24UT, 4.1 10' (R.Louencon, Brazil, 7x50B). (Tail 3 degrees long in PA 280). 1996 Mar 14.27UT, 4.5 14' (L.Binder, USA, 7x35B) Guy M Hurst