-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1263      1998 Jan 23 21.32UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK             GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK
WORLD WIDE WEB                    http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPERNOVA 1997ej IN IC 2060
J. Maza, Department of Astronomy, University of Chile, reports the
discovery of a supernova (B about 16.5) by Marina Wischnjewsky
on a T-Max 400 film taken by L. Gonzalez using the Maksutov
telescope at Cerro El Roble Observatory on Dec. 29.145 UT.
SN 1997ej is located at R.A. = 4h17m53s.49, Decl. = -56o36'58".2
(2000), which is 13".5 east and 17".5 south of the nucleus of the
lenticular galaxy IC 2060 (ESO 157-19).  The object is not visible
on a IIa-O plate taken with the same telescope on Nov. 25.21, nor
is it visible on a T-Max film obtained on Nov.27.22 (limiting mag
about 19.5).

A. Clocchiatti, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile; and M. M.
Phillips, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO), write:  "A
spectrogram (range 350-700 nm; resolution 0.6 nm) taken on Dec.
31.1 UT with the CTIO 1.5-m telescope shows that SN 1997ej is a
type-Ia supernova probably more than a week before maximum light.
The Si II 635.5-nm line is broad and strong, with a flat-bottomed,
blueshifted absorption, the centroid of which indicates an
expansion velocity of 15 000 km/s.  The centroid of the Ca II H and
K absorption yields a blueshift of about 19 000 km/s.  The spectrum
most resembles that of SN 1990N, about 2 weeks before maximum
(particularly in the broadness of the spectral features), but it
also compares reasonably well with a spectrum of SN 1992bc obtained
about 10 days before maximum.  The high expansion velocities of the
Si II and Ca II lines in SN 1997ej are consistent with such an
early phase."

Guy M Hurst