-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1954      2003 Dec 24 17.07UT
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPERNOVA 2003kz IN MCG +09-16-34
On 2003 December 17, an e-mail was received from Tom Boles, Coddenham, 
England reporting his discovery of an apparent supernova of magnitude 
18.5 in MCG +09-16-34 on an unfiltered CCD image of 2003 Dec 16.092UT. 
The image was obtained with a 0.35-m Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope during 
searches for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol.

A confirmatory image was obtained on Dec 17.186UT.

The object is located at:
RA 09h 38m 35.27s DEC +52o 17' 53.2" (2000), 9.5"W and 11.1"N of the 
centre of parent galaxy.

The suspect is not present on Tom's images of 2003 Sept 29 and Oct 24 
(limiting magnitude 19.5) and it is not present on DSS II red (1995.244) 
or blue plates (1993.004).

The object was subsequently designated Supernova 2003kz on IAUC 8257. We 
congratulate Tom on the discovery of his 59th supernova.

MARS
Don Parker, Coral Gables, Florida, USA has reported on IAUC 8256 that 
CCD images of Dec 13UT show that a large regional dust storm has broken 
out on Mars.

A bright dust cloud covers most of the Chryse Planitia and extends west 
into Candor; most of Aurorae Sinus is obscured. In addition, the dust 
cloud has extended south into Eos and Margaritifer Sinus. Secondary 
clouds are seen over Bosporos Planum and northern Argyre and possibly 
Aram Chaos (on the evening limb). The dimensions of the main cloud are 
estimated to be about 3000 km east-west and about 1800 km north-south.

COMET P/2003 XD_10 (LINEAR-NEAT)
An apparently asteroidal object reported on Dec 4 and 5 by the LINEAR 
project (designated 2003 XD_10) and independently with
the NEAT 1.2-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar on Dec.14.4 (discovery
observation below) was later reported to be cometary by K. J. Lawrence. 
According to IAU Circular 8257, the magnitudes derived are: 19.2 
(LINEAR) and 20.1 (NEAT).

Following posting on the NEO Confirmation Page, several other CCD 
observers including Peter Birtwhistle (Great Shefford, England, 0.30-m 
reflector) have confirmed the cometary nature.

Peter obtained images on Dec. 14.9 (co-added images totalling 15 min 
exposure, diffuse coma of diameter 10", extended in p.a.
about 260 deg, surrounding a central condensation of mag 19.4) and also 
on Dec.15.9 (8" coma and 45" tail in p.a. 255 deg).

Guy M Hurst