------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1340 1998 Sep 27 13.57UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSISTANT EDITORS You will be aware from my editorial in the September issue of TA that Martin Mobberley wishes to stand down as Assistant Editor in order to devote more time to his observational projects. We are most grateful for the efficient way in which he has produced both the e-circulars and also the magazine when the Editor has been away on business or holidays. Martin has always dreaded the August issue (the usual annual leave for the editor) but nevertheless has always produced it in a professional manner. Following discussions at yesterday's AGM, held in Birmingham, I am delighted to announce the appointment of two assistant editors, Nick James and Denis Buczynski who, I am sure, are well known to most of you. They have kindly agreed to cover for the editor during absences but as Nick is also often away, Denis has indicated his willingness to also help ensure e-circulars are issued promptly. SUPERNOVAE 1998dy, 1998dz, 1998ea D. Reiss, University of Washington, reports that the Mount Stromlo Abell Cluster Supernova Search Team has discovered three apparent supernovae on V and R CCD images taken by S.Sabine at the Mount Stromlo 1.27-m telescope (+ Macho Camera): SN Date UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. V Offset 1998dy Aug. 1 4 29 54.24 -61 12 43.1 19.0 -- 1998dz Sept. 3 3 20 58.18 -41 05 22.8 18.5 -- 1998ea Sept. 6 4 33 46.59 -61 35 20.4 19.5 5".9 W, 1".5 N IAUC 7015 (extract) NOVA IN M31 E. Halderson, T. Shefler, M. Modjaz, J. Y. King, M. Papenkova, W. D. Li, R. R. Treffers, and A. V. Filippenko, University of California at Berkeley, report their discovery of an apparent nova in M31 (NGC 224) during the course of the Lick Observatory Supernova Search with the 0.8-m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT). The nova was found and confirmed (unfiltered mag 17.8) on unfiltered CCD images taken on Sept. 15.3 and 16.3 UT, respectively. The object is located at R.A. = 0h42m46s.6, Decl. = +41o14'50" (2000; due to a lack of nearby stars, this semiaccurate position was calculated as an offset from the NED position for the nucleus of M31), which is about 26" east and 78" south of the galaxy nucleus. A KAIT image of M31 taken on Aug. 31.3 showed nothing at the position of the nova (limiting mag about 19.0). IAUC 7015 SUPERNOVA 1998eb IN NGC 1961 W. D. Li, M. Modjaz, E. Halderson, T. Shefler, J. Y. King, M.Papenkova, R. R. Treffers, and A. V. Filippenko, University of California at Berkeley, report their discovery of an apparent supernova in NGC 1961 during the course of the Lick Observatory Supernova Search with the 0.8-m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT). SN 1998eb was found and confirmed on unfiltered images taken on Sept. 17.5 and 19.4 UT (unfiltered magnitude about 17.8), respectively. The object, is located at R.A. = 5h42m12s.02, Decl. = +69o22'26".3 (2000.0), which is about 38".8 east and 17".0 south of the nucleus of NGC 1961. IAUC 7016 (extract) Guy M Hurst