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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1299      1998 May 11 18.46UT
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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SUPERNOVA 1998bu IN NGC 3368 (Q1998/035)
On 1998 May 10 we received a report from Mirko Villi, a member of
the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol since 1991 March, that he had
detected a possible supernova north of Messier 96. An appeal for
confirmation was issued under reference Q1998/035. Bad weather
seemed to initial prevent the team confirming the event but in
the meantime results elsewhere have led to its announcement
on IAUC 6899:

Mirko Villi, Forli, Italy, reports his discovery on CCD images
taken on May 9.9 UT of an apparent supernova (mag about 13) located
about 60" north of the centre of NGC 3368 = M96.  Villi notes that
a previous CCD image taken on Apr. 21.9 shows no object in this
position, neither is anything visible on several atlases of galaxy
images.  S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports that M. Aoki (Toyama)
has obtained a CCD image of SN 1998bu (V = 11.8) on May 10.618 with
a 0.43-m reflector in bad weather conditions, from which the
following precise position was measured:  R.A. = 10h46m46s.03, Decl. =
+11o50'07".1 (2000), which is 4".3 east and 55".3 north
of the centre of NGC 3368.  No star was visible on previous frames
of this galaxy taken by Aoki.  B. A. Skiff, Lowell Observatory,
reports that he viewed the apparent supernova on May 10.33 UT at
visual mag perhaps 12.0-12.5.  D. Hanzl, Brno, Czech Republic,
reports that he imaged SN 1998bu on May 10.835 at V = 12.37 with a
0.40-m reflector + CCD; he gave the offset as 49" north of the
galaxy's centre.

We understand the discovery was made with a 0.25-m Schmidt-
Cassgerain telescope used in conjunction with a KAF-0400 chip CCD
camera. Some Internet reports have stated the object is 1 arc
second from the nucleus but examination of the discovery image
on the WWW by the Editor confirms this should presumably read
approximately 1 arc minute.

COMET C/1998 J1 (SOHO)
Bjorn Granslo, Norway e-mails that he has received a report
from Haakon Dahle, Honolulu, USA that this comet (cf E1298)
has been detected by N.Biver with a 0.26-m reflector on
1998 May 11.23UT. It was also seen by H.Dahle and O. Guyon.
Dahle, using 20x80B, estimated the magnitude as +0.5,
diameter 1.0' and DC 7-8.

Martin Mobberley, Assistant TA Editor, calculates the comet
will be PA 058 on May 12 and PA 097 May 17 with separations
as stated in the previous E-Circular. The comet will continue
to move SE in late May.

SUPERNOVAE 1998bq, 1998br, 1998bs
L. Germany reports that the Mount Stromlo Abell Cluster
Supernova Search Team has discovered three apparent supernovae on
V and R CCD images taken with the Mount Stromlo 1.27-m telescope:
SN       Date UT      R.A. (2000.0) Decl.      V        Offset
1998bq   Apr. 28   15h10m20.53  + 5 51'16.5   19.2   1".2 W, 1".7 S
1998br   Apr. 18   15 10 24.94  + 5 55 30.0   20.5   5".1 E, 3".6 N
1998bs   Apr. 18   13 26 31.51  -31 09 08.9   20.6   0".1 E, 0".5 N
IAUC 6893 (extract)

Guy M Hurst