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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2488      2008 Oct 01 15.28UT
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 AQUILA
K. Itagaki, Japan, reports on IAUC CBET 1512 the discovery of a variable 
star on his CCD survey image taken on 2008 Sept.22.5 UT with a 0.21-m 
reflector; a confirming unfiltered CCD image taken on Sept. 22.586 with 
a 0.60-m reflector yields mag about 14.0 and
the following precise position:
RA 19h 06m 28.58s DEC +07o06'44.3" (2000). Nothing brighter than mag 
17.0 is visible at this position on Itagaki's patrol image taken on 2007 
Nov. 2.396.
The 2MASS catalogue contains a very faint star (J = 16.6, H = 15.5, K_s 
= 14.7) with position end figures 28s.60,44".5.  Following an appeal 
from the Central Bureau, V. Nevski, Belarus, (0.30-m reflector) reports 
that an unfiltered CCD image obtained on Sept. 22.8 yields red mag 14.0 
and position end figures 28s.59, 44".6
for the variable, adding that nothing is visible at this position on 
Digitised Sky Survey images from 1951 July 5 and 1987 July 30 (limiting 
mag approximately 20).

E. Y. Hsiao et. al., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of 
Victoria, write that an optical spectrum was obtained on Sept. 23.16 UT 
using the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope as part of its 
targets-of-opportunity spectroscopy program.  The transient exhibits a 
strongly increasing continuum from 600 to 703 nm with a broad and 
flat-topped emission (HWZI about 2700 km/s, 6.5 nm) at the position of 
H_alpha, which suggests that this could be a heavily reddened classical 
(He/N) nova.

(136108) HAUMEA
The IAU's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature and Working Group
for Planetary System Nomenclature have agreed to give to the
transneptunian dwarf planet, or 'plutoid', (136108) 2003 EL_61 (cf. IAUC 
8577) the name "Haumea", with the citation given on MPC 63878. At the 
same time, the IAU is giving the name Hi'iaka to (136108) Haumea I -- 
the larger, outer satellite (cf. IAUC 8577) -- and the name "Namaka" to 
(136108) Haumea II -- the smaller, inner satellite (cf. IAUC 8636). 
(IAUC 8976)

SUPERNOVA 2008fr IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
Discovery by ROTSE of a possible supernova (CBET 1513):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008fr  Sep. 14.37  01 11 49.14  +14 38 27.0  17.3      --
Type Ia near maximum light

SUPERNOVA 2008fs IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY
Discovery by ROTSE of a possible supernova (CBET 1513):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (CBET 1507):
SN      2008 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2008fs  Sep. 21.28  01 09 05.75  +14 45 16.9  18.2     3.1"W, 3.9"S
Spectra of Sept 22.26UT best match that of SN 1999ex at nine days after 
maximum.

Guy M Hurst