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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1766      2002 Apr 16 18.06UT
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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POSSIBLE NOVA IN SAGITTARIUS
Bill Liller has reported a possible nova of magnitude 9.2 has been
photographed in Sagittarius on two films of 2002 Apr. 15.354UT.
Previous images of Apr. 11.40UT do not show the object to a
limiting magnitude of 11.5. The approximate position is:
RA 18h 00.1m DEC -30 54' (2000). 

Paulo Cacella, Brazil, has subsequently reported the following
precise position:
RA 17h 59m 59.63 s DEC -30 53' 20.52" (2000).
An image of 2002 Apr 16 (02.14UT) using a 0.26-m SCT with HX516 CCD
showed V=10.1.

LUNAR OCCULTATION BY SATURN
A final reminder that an occultation of Saturn by the Moon will be
visible tonight (Apr 16) with approximate UK times:
Edinburgh: disappearance 20h 46mUT; reappearance 21h 26mUT
London   :               21h 00mUT;              21h 26mUT
Reports with timings and also images would be welcomed.  

SUPERNOVA 2002cf IN NGC 4786
A LOTOSS supernova discovery has been reported on IAUC 7877. The
object, of about magnitude 17, was recorded with KAIT on Apr 13.3UT
in NGC 4786. The quoted position is:
RA 12h 54m 31.30s DEC -06 51' 24.8" (2000) giving offsets of 16.4"W
and 9.4"N of the centre of the galaxy.

SUPERNOVA 2002cg IN UGC 10415
A further LOTOSS supernova discovery, this time in UGC 10415, has
also been reported on IAUC 7877. The object, of magnitude 17.8, was
recorded on Apr. 13.5UT at: RA 16h 29m 00.48s DEC +41 17' 00.4"
(2000), 1.2"E and 2.9"S of the nucleus.

SUPERNOVA 2002cc In ANONYMOUS GALAXY.
Tom Boles co-discovered this object which was announced on TA E-
Circular 1763. Tom Matheson reports spectroscopic confirmation has
been obtained on Apr 10 with the Mt. Hopkins 1.5-m telescope
showing it be to a type Ia, about one week past maximum at that
stage according to IAUC 7877.

Guy M Hurst