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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2426      2008 Feb 28 14.27UT
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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POSSIBLE REBRIGHTENING OF 2005md IN NGC 2274
W. Li et. al., University of California at Berkeley, report on CBET 1265 
the discovery of either a new supernova within 0".5 of 2005md (IAUC 
8647), or a re-brightening of 2005md.  KAIT images of Feb. 11-13 UT show 
an object (at mag 18.5) at:
RA 06h47m19s.10 DEC +33 34' 24.5" (2000), which is 21.7"E and 23.1" N of 
the nucleus of NGC 2274. This position differs from the reported 
position of 2005md by 0".1 in R.A. and 0".4 in Decl; 2005md was 
discovered on 2005 Dec.25.35 at mag 18.1 (CBET 332) and was classified 
as a possible young type-II supernova by Modjaz et al. (IAUC 8650). 
However, the reported spectrum only showed a featureless blue continuum, 
with no obvious broad supernova features. KAIT images of 2005md also 
showed that the object declined quickly, and it was fainter than mag 
19.8 in 2006 January. At the distance of NGC 2274 (about 70 Mpc), 0".5 
corresponds to a linear distance of about 120 pc, so it is possible that 
the object detected in the 2008 Feb. images is a new supernova very 
close in position to 2005md and that the two objects are unrelated.
If anyone has images of NGC 2274 over the period 2005 to date please 
send details to the editor.

SUPERNOVA 2008S IN NGC 6946
Ron Arbour, South Wonston, England points out that the supernova he 
discovered and for which details appeared on TA E-Circulars 2416, 2418 
and 2420, has not so far showed a clearly defined maximum. He wishes to 
establish if there are any images taken of NGC 6946 between 2007 Dec 19 
and the end of 2008 January, whether these show the supernova or not.
In the first instance could anyone with such images of this galaxy 
please e-mail details of dates, times and instrumentation to the editor 
who will then advise if an image transfer is required.

SUPERNOVA 2008ai IN MCG +06-24-39
Further to this discovery by Tom Boles reported on TA E-Circular 2421, 
J. M. Silverman, T. N. Steele, M. Ganeshalingam, N. Lee, and A. V. 
Filippenko, University of California, Berkeley, report on CBET 1264 that 
inspection of CCD spectra (range 330-1050 nm), obtained on Feb. 16 UT 
with the Shane 3-m reflector shows
that 2008ai is a type-Ia supernova, approximately one
week past maximum brightness

SUPERNOVA 2008aj IN MCG +06-30-34
J. M Silverman et. al., (see above) also reported that this object found 
by Tom Boles (cf TA E-Circular 2422) is a type-IIn
supernova using the same equipment as for SN 2008ai.

SUPERNOVA 2008al IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
Discovery by A. J. Drake et. al., California Institute of Technology of 
a possible supernova (CBET 1261):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008al  Feb. 13.10  02 46 07.23  -07 38 33.8  17.6      -      -
Prediscovery images of 2008al were located from Feb. 7.10, when the 
object was at V about 17.3

SUPERNOVA 2008am IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
Discovery by ROTSE collaboration of a possible supernova (CBET 1262):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008am  Jan. 10.41  12 28 36.25  +15 34 49.1  18.7     1.0"W, 0.6"S
Type-IIn from a spectrogram of Jan 31.50UT using the Palomar 5-m 
telescope.
Guy M Hurst