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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2487      2008 Sep 29 18.35UT
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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EDITORIAL NOTICE
The TAHQ computer network was recently down for several days due to a 
router failure. This has seriously affected the handling of e-mail 
messages. None have been lost due to an automatic backup system but 
there is a lengthy backlog which we hope to clear during the next few 
days.

THE ASTRONOMER ANNUAL MEETING 2008 OCTOBER 10-11
The above network difficulty has also delayed the preparation and 
despatch of the annual meeting programmes but these will be posted by 
the end of this week.

With regard to those who expressed a wish to attend the Norman Lockyer 
Society meeting on the Friday night before the TA Annual meeting on the 
Saturday, David Strange, our local organiser, confirms Friday's meeting 
will start at 7.30pm. If clear observing sessions will be arranged and 
it is hoped three of the observatory domes will be opened. Otherwise if 
cloud prevails, an informal set of discussions will be organised.

Please also note the final deadline for those booking the buffet lunch 
is *September 30*. If you have posted such a booking today please also 
e-mail the editor in confirmation.

SUPERNOVA 2008fv IN NGC 3147
Koichi Itagaki, Japan, reports his discovery on CBET 1520 of an apparent 
supernova (mag 16.5) on unfiltered 20-s CCD frames (limiting mag 19.0) 
exposed around Sept.27.78 UT with a 0.60-m f/5.7 reflector.  The new 
object is located at:
RA 10h 16m 57.28s DEC +73 24' 36.4" (2000), which is 16" east and 34" 
north of the centre of the galaxy NGC 3147.
Additional magnitudes from Itagaki: 2007 Feb. 2, [19.0; 2008 Sept. 
10.80, [18.5; 28.569, 16.1.  Nothing is visible at this
position on the Digitised Sky Survey.
Following an appeal from the Central Bureau, C. Jacques and E. Pimentel, 
Brazil, confirm the object on an unfiltered 180-s CCD image taken on 
Sept. 28.49 -- remotely with a 30-cm f/9.1 reflector
at the GRAS Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A. which yields mag 15.6 
(with apparent brightening) and position end figures 57s.27, 36".5. 
Itagaki also discovered the type-Ib supernova 2006gi in NGC 3147. Other 
supernovae found in NGC 3147: 1997bq; 1972H

SUPERNOVA 2008fo IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
Discovery by ROTSE of a possible supernova (CBET 1505):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008fo  Aug   7.15  16 40 12.46  +39 43 55.8  18.4     5.6"W, 4.5"S
Spectra obtained on Sept. 5.13 with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope 
indicate the object is a type Ic-supernova.

SUPERNOVA 2008fp IN ESO 428-G14
Discovery by the CHASE project of a possible supernova (CBET 1506):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008fp  Sep. 11.39  07 16 32.60  -29 19 31.7  13.5R   17.5"E, 2.1"S
A confirming image on Sept. 13.29 shows it at R approximately 13.2.

SUPERNOVA 2008fq IN NGC 6907
Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (CBET 1507):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008fq  Sep. 15.29  20 25 06.19  -24 48 27.6  15.4     5.5"W, 4.6"N

Guy M Hurst