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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2394      2007 Nov 16 09.48UT
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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V597 PUPPIS = NOVA PUPPIS 2007
Alfredo Pereira, Carnaxide, Portugal, reports on IAUC 8895 his
visual discovery of an apparent nova of magnitude 7.0 on 2007 Nov. 
14.23UT using 14x100 binoculars. It is located at:
RA 08h16m.2, DEC -34 15'(2000).
Following requests by the Central Bureau, CCD astrometry has been 
reported by J. E. McGaha (USA) using a 0.62-m f/5.1 reflector) and by J. 
Young and H. Rhoades (Table Mountain 0.61-m f/16 Cassegrain
reflector). From his 1-s exposure on Nov. 14.411, McGaha measures a 
precise position of:
RA 08h16m18s.01 DEC-34 15' 24.1" (2000)
Young measures average position end figures 17s.99, 25".0
He also adds that comparison with a red image from the Digitised Sky 
Survey shows only an extremely faint star (mag about 20) at the same 
spot as the apparent nova.
We understand Alfredo had searched for novae for 625.85 hours since his 
discovery of the 2001 nova V4740 Sgr.

H. Naito and N. Tokimasa, Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory,
report that they obtained a low-resolution spectrum (range 410-670 nm; 
resolution 1200 at H_alpha) of V597 Pup (a designation assigned by N. N. 
Samus, Institute of Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences), on 
Nov.14.77 UT with the 2.0-m NAYUTA telescope (+ MALLS) which confirmed 
the object is a nova of Fe II type found near maximum.

Reinder Bouma relays via VSNET Alfredo's observing log for this object:
2007 Nov. 6.23 UT nothing noticed down to mag 8:
           7.22, nothing noticed down to mag 8:
           8.23, nothing noticed down to mag 8:
           9.22, nothing noticed down to mag 7.5:
          10.23, nothing noticed down to mag 8:
          11.22, nothing noticed down to mag 8: (cirrus in area)
          14.23  UT 7.0: (discovery!)
          14.243 UT 7.0
          14.249 UT 7.0
          14.256 UT 7.0
          14.256 UT 7.0
          15.19  UT 7.4
          15.24  UT 7.4

David Branchett, USA, e-mails TA to advise that he has made a visual 
observation on 2007 Nov 15.391UT at magnitude 7.3.

AL COM
Ian Miller has reported a brightening of AL Com. On 2007 Nov 6.254UT it 
was measured at 16.1 CCD.
M. Uemura, A. Arai, and M. Sasada on behalf of the KANATA team
Hiroshima University confirm the outburst obtaining a V magnitude of 
15.2 on Nov 7.862UT.
They add that since Patrick Schmeer reported that the object was already 
in outburst on 24 Oct. (no report received by TA of this event: editor), 
it is possible that the object is now in a re-brightening phase.

Guy M Hurst