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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2203      2006 Feb 20 09.54UT
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      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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NOVA SAGITTARII 2006
Bill Liller, Chile, has reported his discovery of a possible
nova of magnitude 9.0 detected on three Technical Pan photographs taken 
with an 85mmFL camera lens around 2006 Feb. 17.37 UT.

It is located at: RA 17h 58.9m DEC -36 48' (2000).

Bill adds that nothing brighter than mag 11.0 was seen on a
photograph taken on Feb. 5.36.  A low-dispersion CCD spectrogram of the 
H-alpha region taken on Feb. 19.38 UT with a 0.2-m Schmidt telescope 
shows a moderately strong H-alpha emission with a
FWHM of 630 +/- 25 km/s.  A weak P-Cyg profile may be present
approximately 535 km/s from the peak of the H-alpha emission.

Hitoshi Yamaoka, Japan, advises that Minoru Yamamoto made an independent 
discovery at magnitude 8.6 on Feb 17.84UT using twin digital cameras. 
Yamamoto's positional end figures are:
RA 58m54s DEC 47'40"

Although an IAU Circular has not yet been issued, the Central Bureau has 
used the designation 'Nova Sagittarii 2006' on CBET 407.

Guy M Hurst