------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1600 2001 Jan 14 13.35UT 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 2001F IN IC 867 M. Modjaz and W. D. Li, University of California at Berkeley, on behalf of LOTOSS, report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag about 16.5) on an unfiltered image taken with the 0.8-m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT) on Jan.6.5 UT (confirmed on several images taken on Jan. 9.5 under poor weather conditions). The new object is located at: R.A. = 13h17m20s.05, Decl. = +20o38'09".8 (2000), which is 4".3 east and 7".7 south of the nucleus of IC 867. A KAIT image of the same field taken on 2000 June 20.2 showed nothing at this position (limiting mag about 19.0). IAUC 7558 V445 PUPPIS The object reported on E1596 and E1598 as a possible nova has been designated as V445 Puppis according to a report from N.N. Samus at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow. However, due to the complexity of the spectrum, it has still not been possible to decide if a nova classification is justified. SUPERNOVA 2001G IN MCG +08-17-43 (=Q2001/01) Guy M. Hurst, Basingstoke, England, reports the discovery by Mark Armstrong (Rolvenden, Kent) of an apparent supernova (mag 16.1) on a CCD frame taken on Jan. 8.051 UT with a 0.35-m Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope in the course of the U.K. Nova/Supernova Patrol. A confirming image obtained on Jan. 12.904 shows that the new object has brightened to mag about 15.2. An average of measurements from each frame yields the following position for SN 2001G: R.A. = 9h09m33s.18, Decl. = +50o16'51".3 (2000), which is 2" east and 4" south of the centre of MCG +08-17-43. Nothing is present at this position to mag about 18 on Armstrong's patrol images from 2000 Nov. 30 and Dec. 27, neither is anything present on Palomar Sky Survey images obtained on 1991 Feb. 13 (red, limiting mag 20.8), 1996 Mar. 12 (infrared, limiting mag 19.5), and 1997 Feb. 5 (blue, limiting mag 22.5). IAUC 7560 Additionally, Martin Mobberley, Chelmsford, England has responded to an appeal for independent confirmation. Whilst his 100 second exposure of 2001 Jan 13.804UT with the 0.3-m f/3.3 LX200 does not show the new object separated from the galaxy, there does appear to be an extension of the galaxy when compared with Palomar Survey images and early pictures sent to the editor by Mark Armstrong. The object seems to continue to brighten so further images and magnitude estimates would be welcomed. We offer our congratulations to Mark on this further success. VARIABLE STAR EDITOR It is with regret that we must advise you that due to illness, Dave McAdam wishes to stand down from the position as variable star editor after the January issue. Gary Poyner has kindly agreed to take over the role and January results, due by Feb 5, should be sent to him at 67, Ellerton Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, B44 0QE, England or via the Internet at: gp@star.sr.bham.ac.uk. Many thanks to Dave for all his hard work in producing the column in the past. Guy M Hurst