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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2218      2006 Apr 13 16.56UT
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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V2576 OPHIUCHI = NOVA OPHIUCHI 2006 No. 2
A message was received from Peter Williams of New South Wales via 
VSNET-alert 8905 on 2006 April 6 and from other sources reporting that 
he had visually observed the RCB star V517 Oph and had noticed a mag 
10.5 star not previously seen or charted. A check of the Asteroid 
Checker suggested no bright asteroids were in this area (except 9096 
Hovland at mag 18) and no movement has been noted during one hour.

An approximate position derived from 'The Sky' software display was:
RA 17h 15m 30s DEC -29 09' 30" (2000). This object is situated 8mm 
(about 40 arcsec) SE of the comparison star m124 on VSS RASNZ chart 647 
for V517 Oph

Observations:
20060406.565    105    WPX
20060406.590    104    WPX
20060406.611    104    WPX

Elizabeth Waagen, AAVSO, reports the following precise position for the 
new object from T. Krajci (Cloudcroft, NM):
RA 17h 15m 33s.00, DEC -29 09' 39.9" (2000) adding that a nearby
USNO-B1.0 star has position end figures 33.007s, 36.84".

Subsequently a note on IAUC 8700 indicates that H. Naito and S. Ozaki, 
Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory; and H. Yamaoka, Kyushu 
University, report that a low-resolution spectrum
(resolution 1200 at H_alpha, range 420-680 nm) of this new object was 
obtained on Apr. 7.80 UT with the 2.0-m NAYUTA telescope under hazy 
conditions. The spectrum shows a flat continuum with prominent Balmer 
lines, showing a P-Cyg profile, and other lines in absorption, which 
suggests that it is indeed a classical nova caught at maximum light.

E. Kazarovets, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow University,
reports that the permanent designation V2576 Oph has been assigned to 
this nova.

Guy M Hurst