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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1288      1998 Apr 13 21.47UT
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
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PROBABLE SUPERNOVA IN NGC 3982 (=Q1998/026)
Mark Armstrong, Rolvenden, England reports his discovery of a
probable supernova in NGC 3982 during the course of searches for
the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol.

The object was initially imaged with the 0.26-m LX200 telescope
+ CCD (unfiltered) on 1998 Apr 13.04852UT and the following
position measured:

RA 11h56m26.00s DEC +55 07'38.8"(2000)

Hurst estimated the approximate magnitude as 14.9 by reference to
comparison star values in the GSC and A1.0.

Further measures from exposures by Armstrong on Apr 13.08035 and
13.10928 did not show movement and there appears to be no known
asteroidal candidate.

The object is also absent from the Vickers CCD atlas and a search
of the A1.0 catalogue by Hurst did not show a candidate to
magnitude 19.

Earlier patrol photos by Armstrong of 1998 Mar 9 and Apr 7 did not
show the object.

Ron Arbour, South Wonston, England confirmed the presence of the
object on an exposure of Apr 13.086UT and again on Apr 13.814UT
using a 0.30-m f6.3 reflector with CCD unfiltered. He estimates
the offsets as 18" west and 7" north. Hurst estimated the
magnitude as approximate 14.5 on the latter exposure.

Guy M Hurst