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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1068      1996 Apr 08 19.00UT
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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SUPERNOVAE
P. Garnavich and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics (CfA), on behalf of the High-Z Supernova Search Team,
report the discovery of five supernovae on CCD images taken with
the Victor Blanco 4-m telescope at Cerro Tololo by A. Clocchiatti,
R. Schommer, N. Suntzeff, A. Athey, and E. Turner on Mar. 15 and 16
UT.  Spectra of SNe 1996Q, 1996R, 1996T, and 1996U were obtained by
R. Kirshner and R. Jayawardhana (CfA) with the Multiple Mirror
Telescope (MMT) on Mar. 17 and 18.  A spectrum of SN 1996S was
obtained by L. Germany and B. Schmidt (Mount Stromlo and Siding
Spring Observatories) and R. Stathakis (Anglo-Australian
Observatory) with the Anglo-Australian Telescope on Mar. 24.
Results derived from the imaging and spectra are as follows:

SN      1996 UT     R.A.  (2000)  Decl.      R         Offset
1996Q   Mar. 15   8h46m09.18  + 0o06'53.9   21.8   0".6 W, 0".3 N
1996R   Mar. 15  11 16 10.36  - 0 11 39.3   20.6   2".6 E, 6".4 S
1996S   Mar. 15  11 25 11.16  -35 26 29.1   22.5   3".5 W, 1".3 N
1996T   Mar. 15  10 05 27.66  - 7 27 23.9   21     0.0, 0.0
1996U   Mar. 15  11 50 33.51  +10 26 45.4   22.2   0".5 W, 1".3 S
IAUC 6358

COMET C/1996 B2 (HYAKUTAKE)
We have restricted reports of such items as magnitude estimates
during recent weeks to avoid creating bias in the results. It is
clear that the very large size of the comet coupled with varying
weather conditions in various parts of the world, means that there
has been considerable scatter in the results during late March.
However it appears the comet's brightness peaked at around
magnitude -0.2/-0.5. Recent results suggest it may now have faded
to mag 3, rather fainter than expected.

It will be very difficult to include all the observations in
the April TA but we intend to publish them all eventually and
would therefore appreciate prompt reports.
Within the results already received many key items of data are
missing. In particular the magnitude method and the source of
the comparison star magnitudes are the most frequent omissions.
Please re-check your reports and send in any missing portions
by re-stating the whole data line for the date in question and
adding in capital letters 'CORRECTION'.

We would also welcome any photographs, CCD images and drawings
which may so far have not been submitted. In particular any
material showing the nuclear region whether from visual drawing,
imaging or photography would be especially valuable. Drawings
of tail structure would also be useful.

TASV J2352+665
This new variable was announced on E1032. Mike Collins,
discoverer, reports his analysis of UK Nova/Supernova photographs
and obtains the following ephemeris: JDmax=2447697.03 + 332.05 E
It would appear to be a mira-type variable.
He points out that the next minimum may occur around 1996
April 13 and it would be helpful if observers could obtain
images at this time so the minimum magnitude can be more
accurately determined.

Guy M Hurst