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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2421      2008 Feb 15 20.21UT
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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SUPERNOVA 2008ai IN MCG +06-24-39
On 2008 Feb 13 we received an e-mail from Tom Boles reporting his 
discovery of an apparent supernova (mag 17.7) on 10 multiple unfiltered 
CCD images taken about Feb. 13.014 UT with a 0.35-m Schmidt-Cassegrain 
telescope during searches for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol.

The new object is located at:
RA 10h 57m 39.97s DEC +37 39'41.9" (2000), which is approximately 29.7"W 
and 25.3"N of the centre of the galaxy MCG +06-24-39.

Tom subsequently reported measuring end figures of 39.96s and 41.5" from 
a confirming image acquired by W. Li (University of California at 
Berkeley) on Feb. 14.484. Nothing is present at this position on Tom's 
images from 2006 Jan. 10 and Mar. 4 (limiting mag 19.5) or on Digitised 
Sky Survey plates of 1998 May 15 (limiting red mag 20.5) and 1996 Mar. 
18 (limiting blue mag 21.0).

The object was designated supernova 2008ai on CBET 1256. Congratulations 
to Tom on the discovery of his 111th supernova.

SUPERNOVA 2008af IN UGC 9640
Further to the announcement of the discovery of this apparent supernova 
found by Tom Boles (cf TA E-Circular 2420), S. Blondin, 
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) reports on CBET 1253 
that a spectrum obtained on 2008 Feb. 11.48 UT by P.
Berlind with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope shows it to 
be a type-Ia supernova a few days past maximum light. SN 2008af is most 
similar to the type-Ia supernova 1992A at 7 days past maximum light.

SUPERNOVA 2008N IN NGC 4273
Discovery by Winslow, Li and Filippenko of a possible supernova (CBET 
1215):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008N   Jan 17.56   12 19 55.78  +05 20 21.3  17.8   5.6"W,14.3"S

SUPERNOVA 2008O IN ESO 256-G11
Discovery by CHASE project of a possible supernova (CBET 1220):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008O   Jan 22.1    06 57 34.46  -45 48 44.3  17.0   9.6"W, 1.3"S

SUPERNOVA 2008P IN NGC 2550A
Discovery by CROSS program of a possible supernova (CBET 1223):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008P   Jan 23.88   08 28 39.18  +73 45 02.9  17.5   3  "W,10  "N

Guy M Hurst