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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1677      2001 Aug 27 19.15UT
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.theastronomer.org
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SUPERNOVA 2001dw IN NGC 1168 (Q2001/244)
On 2001 August 25, Tom Boles e-mailed details of a single image
of NGC 1168 obtained on Aug 25.125UT showing a possible supernova
of magnitude 16.6. However reference to the Central Bureau Minor
Planet checker did reveal that the asteroid (17061) 1999 GQ8 was
nearby. However astrometry from a follow-up image on Aug 25.988UT
confirmed the suspect was stationary and not therefore the
asteroid which, in any case, was predicted to be about magnitude
19.4.

This interpretation was also quickly confirmed when Arto Oksanen
in Finland responded to an alert from TA by providing a further
confirmatory image and astrometry.

The following IAUC has appeared and we again offer congratulations
to Tom on this further success:

Guy M. Hurst, Basingstoke, England, reports the discovery of an
apparent supernova (mag 16.6) by Tom Boles, Coddenham, England, on
unfiltered CCD images obtained on Aug. 25.125 (limiting mag 19) and
25.989 UT (poor conditions) with a 0.36-m Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescope for the U.K. Nova/Supernova Patrol.  The new object is
located at R.A. = 3h00m47s.88, Decl. = +11o46'27".5 (2000), which
is 13" west and 9".5 south of the centre of NGC 1168.
A confirming image obtained by Arto Oksanen, Nyrola Observatory,
Finland, on Aug. 26.025 with a 0.36-m Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
yields the following position end figures for SN 2001dw:  47s.84,
26".7.  The new object was absent from a master image taken by
Boles on 1999 Nov. 2, and it does not appear on second Palomar Sky
Survey images from 1990 (blue) and 1991 (red).
IAUC 7691

Guy M Hurst