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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1749      2002 Mar 07 12.24UT
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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1RXP J113123+4322.5
Pavol Dubovsky, Slovakia, reports the first ever visually-detected
outburst of this ROSAT cataclysmic variable on Mar 5.988UT at
magnitude 13.5. Taichi Kato, Japan, reports the position on VSNET:
RA 11h 31m 23s DEC +43 22' 37" (2000)
Mike Linnolt, Hawaii, has confirmed the outburst with a 0.37-m
reflector using GSC magnitudes for comparisons which gave visual
magnitude 12.9 on March 6.435UT.

LAMBDA PAVONIS
Sebastian Otero and Cecilia Scalia, Argentina, report that they
recorded Lambda Pavonis on Feb 24.3UT at 3.98. They find this
unusually bright. The GCVS range currently quoted is 4.0-4.3 but
earlier editions have quoted the maximum as bright as 3.6 so it is
not clear whether the current estimates represent a rare
brightening but further results would be welcomed. 

SUPERNOVA 2002bf IN CGCG 266-031
IAU Circular 7836 carries details of the LOTOSS discovery of a
magnitude 17 apparent supernova with KAIT on Feb 22 in CGCG
266-031. The precise position is: RA 10h 15m 42.31s DEC +55 40'
06.7" (2000) with offsets 0.6"E and 4.0"N of the nucleus.

SUPERNOVA 2002bg IN MCG +02-38-31
Tim Puckett and J. Newton (USA) have reported the discovery of a
magnitude 16.9 apparent supernova in MCG +02-38-31 recorded at the
Puckett Observatory with 0.35-m automated patrol telescope on Feb
23. According to IAUC 7836, the position is:
RA 14h 59m 39.23s DEC +13 12' 44.5" (2000) with offsets 13.9"E and
9.9"S. 

SUPERNOVA 2002bh IN UGC 5286
Details of another LOTOSS discovery appeared on IAUC 7837. This
apparent supernova in UGC 5286 was recorded by KAIT on Feb 24 at
magnitude 17 at: RA 09h 51m 06.56s DEC +09 00' 05.7" (2000). The
object is offset 8.2"E and 25.8"S of the nucleus of this galaxy.
Subsequently W.W. Wood-Vasey, University of California reports pre-
discovery images obtained with the Oschin telescope on Feb 16 and
quotes an unfiltered magnitude of 17.6.

SUPERNOVA 2002bi IN UGC 8527
A further LOTOSS discovery, also reported on IAUC 7837, relates to
a mag 17 object recorded on Feb 25 in UGC 8527 at:
RA 13h 32m 54.45s DEC +09 31' 18.0" (2000), 3.0"E and 3.9"N of the
nucleus.

SUPERNOVA 2002bj IN NGC 1821
Both LOTOSS and T. Puckett & J. Newton have reported a bright
supernova (mag about 14.8) discovery in NGC 1821 first noted on
exposures of Feb 28. Puckett's measurement gives: RA 05h 11m 46.41s
DEC -15 08' 10.8" (2000), placing the object 4.5"E and 5.8"S of the
nucleus of the galaxy according to notes on IAUC 7839.

Guy M Hurst