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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2482      2008 Sep 5 09.00UT
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 NOVA IN CENTAURUS
G. Pojmanski, D. Szczygiel, and B. Pilecki, Warsaw University
Astronomical Observatory, report the discovery of a possible nova on 
3-min CCD images obtained with the ASAS-3V instrument of the All Sky 
Automated Survey (200-mm-f.l. 70-mm-aperture f/2.8 telephoto lens + 
Johnsons V filter.

The position of the variable is given as
R.A. = 14h35m03s, Decl. = -64o06'.4 (equinox 2000.0).

G. Sostero, E. Guido, and P. Camilleri obtained "LBVRI" CCD images
during Sept. 2.4-2.5 UT remotely with a 0.3-m f/6 reflector at Trunkey,
NSW, Australia, yielding position end figures 02s.54, 20".0 and the 
following magnitudes Sept. 2.39, B = 9.54, V = 8.63, R = 8.03, I = 7.42; 
Sept. 2.46, B = 9.69, V = 8.70, R = 8.10, I = 7.60.  

Sostero et al. have posted an image of the possible nova at  
http://tinyurl.com/5mcxrs

Additional magnitudes for the possible nova, visual unless otherwise
noted: Aug. 23.994, [12.2 (W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, Tech Pan film
+ orange filter); Sept. 2.48, 8.4 (P. Camilleri, Hurstville, NSW, 
Australia); 2.891, 8.3 (J. G. de S. Aguiar, Campinas, Brazil); 2.938,
8.5 (W. Souza, Sao Paulo, Brazil); 3.890, 9.2 (Aguiar).   (CBET 1497)


COMET C/2008 R1 (GARRADD)
G. J. Garradd reports the discovery of a faint comet with a 15" coma
(more prominent on the northern side) on CCD images taken with the
0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring.

2008 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag.
Sept. 2.49906   21 41 12.73   -47 47 56.4   18.5

G. Sostero, Remanzacco, Italy,reports that P. Camilleri, E. Guido, and
he co-added 24 unfiltered 120-s CCD exposures, obtained remotely with
a 0.35-m f/6.7 reflector of Grove Creek-Skylive Observatory at Trunkey,
NSW, Australia, on Sept. 2.71-2.79 UT, showing a coma about 8" in
diameter, elongated toward p.a. about 30 deg. (IAUC 8969)
 

Preliminary parabolic orbital elements and an ephemeris are
available at: 

www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/2008R1.html


Martin Mobberley