------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2071 2004 Dec 24 16.29UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET P/2004 Y1 (CHRISTENSEN) Eric J. Christensen, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, has reported his discovery of a comet in the course of the Catalina Sky Survey on images taken with the 0.68-m Schmidt telescope according to IAUC 8458: 2004 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Dec. 21.47360 11 02 23.99 +22 52 57.8 16.5 Perihelion occurred on 2004 June 21 and the period is 6.87 years. Ephemeris by Brian Marsden (M.P.E.C. 2004-Y57): Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase m1 2004 12 21 11 02.16 +22 49.4 1.815 2.352 110.9 23.0 16.0 2004 12 31 11 05.79 +24 13.1 1.762 2.410 120.1 20.7 16.1 2005 01 10 11 06.19 +25 52.7 1.721 2.469 129.8 17.8 16.1 2005 01 20 11 03.28 +27 42.2 1.697 2.528 139.6 14.6 16.2 2005 01 30 10 57.34 +29 32.2 1.694 2.587 148.7 11.4 16.3 2005 02 09 10 49.00 +31 11.8 1.715 2.646 155.7 8.8 16.4 2005 02 19 10 39.30 +32 31.0 1.763 2.704 157.8 8.0 16.6 2005 03 01 10 29.50 +33 22.8 1.838 2.763 153.9 9.1 16.7 SUPERNOVA 2004gs IN MCG +03-22-20 Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (IAUC 8453): SN 2004 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2004gs Dec.12.43 08 38 23.18 +17 37 39.8 17.1 9.8"E,12.7"S N. Morrell et. al., Carnegie Supernova Project, report that a spectrum of Dec 13 shows it to be a type Ia near maximum. SUPERNOVA 2004gt IN NGC 4038 Discovery by Monard of a possible supernova (IAUC 8454): SN 2004 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2004gt Dec.12.076 12 01 50.37 -18 52 12.7 14.9 34" W, 10" S A spectrum suggests it is of type Ib/Ic (IAUC 8456). SUPERNOVA 2004gu IN FGC 175A Discovery by Quimby et. al., of a possible supernova (IAUC 8454): SN 2004 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2004gu Dec. 13.50 12 46 24.72 +11 56 56.1 17.5 1.1"W, 2.1"S A spectrum suggests this is of type Ia. SUPERNOVA 2004gv IN NGC 856 Discovery by Y.-t. Chen of a possible supernova (IAUC 8454): SN 2004 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2004gv Dec. 13.669 02 13 37.42 - 0 43 05.8 17.6 13.8"W, 4.0"S A spectrum suggests this is a type Ib/Ic (IAUC 8456/8457). SUPERNOVA 2004gf IN UGC 11864 A. V. Filippenko, et. al., report that a spectrum has been obtained on 2004 Dec 12 with CCD Keck I of this object found by Tom Boles and detailed on TA E-Circular 2063. It indicates it is of type II a few weeks past maximum according to IAUC 8453. SUPERNOVA 2004gl IN MCG +08-16-31 Filippenko also reports a spectrum of this object found by Tom Boles (see TA E-Circular 2065), obtained as per SN 2004gf above, shows it to be a type Ia, three weeks past maximum. (IAUC 8453). EDITORIAL If time permits, the customary Christmas Quiz will be issued on 2004 December 26. May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and successful 2005. Guy M Hurst