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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1913      2003 Sep 02 19.20UT
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 2003hq IN MCG +08-30-27
On September 1, Mark Armstrong reported a suspected mag 17.1
supernova in the galaxy MCG +08-30-27 which had been recorded on
unfiltered CCD images taken on August 30.887 with a 0.35-m
reflector during the course of the UK Nova/Supernova patrol. 

The following position was measured from the discovery image which
had a limiting magnitude of 19.0:

RA 16h 33m 40.9s DEC +50 22' 37.8" (2000).
End figures from a further exposure on August 31.93448UT (limiting
magnitude 19.5) yielded RA 40.9s, DEC 37.7" (2000). The offsets
were estimated to be 2.5"W and 9"N. Mark confirmed that there was
no minor planet candidate or entry in the CBAT recent supernova WWW
pages. POSS red and blue images did not show the object which was
also absent from Mark's images of 2003 June 13 and August 15 which
had a limiting magnitude of 19.0.

Subsequently the object was designated Supernova 2003hq and
announced on IAUC 8191. 

Mark has also relayed spectral confirmation by R. Chornock, S. Jha,
and A. V. Filippenko, University of California at Berkeley who
report that inspection of CCD spectra (range 320-1000 nm) obtained
at the Shane 3-m telescope at Lick Observatory on Sep. 2.2 UT
reveals that SN 2003hq (IAUC 8191) is a type-Ia supernova with a
spectral feature age of 4 (+/- 2) days before maximum light. The
minimum of the strong Si II 635.5 nm absorption feature is observed
at 640 nm, implying a host recession velocity of approximately
12,000 km/sec (assuming a normal SN expansion velocity of 10,000
km/sec).

Congratulations to Mark on the discovery of his 44th supernova.

Guy M Hurst