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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1738      2002 Jan 31 19.58UT
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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V2540 OPHIUCHI
N.N.Samus, Institude of Astronomy, Moscow, reports that the
designation V2540 Oph has been given to the object which was
announced as HADV105 on TA E-Circular 1736, and by the Central
Bureau as a 'possible nova in Ophiuchus' on IAU Circular 7808 and
'Nova Ophiuchi 2002' on IAU Circular 7809. Please ensure all
observations reported to TA and the BAA use the new designation to
avoid any confusion.

We further understand that Yuji Nakamura of Japan reported an
independent discovery to the Central Bureau. The discovery film of
2002 Jan 24.8UT, obtained with a 200mm telephoto lens on Tr-X film,
showed the object at magnitude 9.3.
A fully precise position has been measured by Kadota from the
discovery film by Haseda (cf TA E-circular 1736):
RA 17h 37m 34.41s DEC -16 23' 17.9" (2000).

There is evidently a USNO-A2.0 star of blue magnitude 16.6 and red
magnitude 15.0 with end figures: RA 34.48s DEC 26.1" so the
progenitor is not yet established.

Alon Retter, S. O'Toole, University of Sydney; R. Stathakis, J.
Pogson, AAO; Tim Naylor, Exeter University, report: We observed
this object with the 3.9-m AAT telescope (+RGO) in January 26,
18:30 UT. Preliminary analysis of the medium resolution spectra
(400-700nm) shows that they are dominated by strong emission lines
and possibly weak P-Cygni profiles. The strongest lines are H-
alpha, H-beta and Fe II multiplets 42, 74, 48, 49, 55 etc. The FWZI
of the H-alpha and H-beta lines is 2350+/-100 km/s. The object is,
therefore, very likely a classical nova that belongs to the Fe II
class, caught at the early decline phase.

SUPERNOVA 2002ao IN UGC 9299
A further LOTOSS discovery has been reported on IAUC 7809. A KAIT
image of 2002 Jan 25.5UT recorded a bright supernova of magnitude
14.4 at: RA 14h 29m 35.74s DEC -00 00' 55.8" (2000)
Placing it 16"E and 10"N of UGC 9299. 
Spectroscopic confirmation as a type-Ia appeared on IAUC 7810. 

NSV 15707
A chart for this suspected variable, found by Mike Collins in 1989
and formerly designated TASV 0327+44 has existed in draft form for
some years. An updated chart with the present catalogued name was
issued on CSN 105 of Jan 24. Subsequently a graphical chart,
available to GOLD subscribers, has now appeared on our WWW pages.

V420 VULPECULAE
The revised chart for this object found by Mike Collins and
formerly announced on TA E-Circular 1067 of 1996 April 8 with the
designation TAV J2059+264, was issued on CSN 106. The graphical
chart is also now on the TA WWW pages.

SUPERNOVA 2002ap IN MESSIER 74
S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, has reported on IAUC 7810, that Yoji
Hirose, Chigasaki, Kanagawa-ken, Japan has recorded a possible
supernova of magnitude 14.5 in Messier 74 on CCD frames obtained on
2002 January 29.398-29.501UT with a 0.25-m f/6.3 Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescope.
R.Kushida, Yatsugatake South Base Observatory, has obtained a
precise position:
RA 01h 36m 23.85s DEC +15 45' 13.2" (2000)

Guy M Hurst