------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2490 2008 Oct 08 12.52UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- COMET 202P/SCOTTI Dan Green, Central Bureau reports on IAUC 8981 that S. Nakano suggested P/2001 X2 = 1929 WW, an apparently asteroidal object for which approximate positions from Lowell Observatory plates taken by E. C. Slipher and C. W. Tombaugh on 1929 Nov. 27 and Dec. 3 were published by H. L. Giclas (1940, A.N. 271, 43). Accurate measurements by B. A. Skiff and C. M. Olmstead were published on MPC 16527 in 1990. Although the identification was plausible, the linkage required use of the approximate position on the first night, and this differs from the accurate position by some 6'. Skiff has now re-examined that first plate, finding the measurement on MPC 16527 in fact to apply to a string of faint stars. His new estimate of the position of the object reported by Giclas: 1929 UT R.A. (2000) Decl. Mag. Nov. 27.25556 5 17 18.5 +20 21 06 16.5 clearly confirms the correctness of the identification with the object now designated comet 202P (IAUC 8971, 8976), this object having T = 1930 Jan. 8.7 TT. SUPERNOVA 2008fs IN ANONYMOUS GALAXY: CORRECTION The narrative entry for this object on E2488 was corrupted and should have read: Discovery by ROTSE of a possible supernova (CBET 1513): 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 SUPERNOVA 2008ft IN PGC 64319 Discovery by T. G. Tan, Australia of a possible supernova (CBET 1514): SN 2008 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2008ft Aug. 29.51 20 13 59.96 -44 21 07.8 15.5 39 "E, 1 "S It was independently discovered by G. Pignata et. al. SUPERNOVA 2008fu IN ESO 480-IG21 Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (CBET 1517): SN 2008 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2008fu Sep. 25.45 03 02 28.50 -24 27 21.5 17.4 3.0"W P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), reports that a spectrum obtained on Sept. 26 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope, shows it to be a type-Ia supernova at about maximum light. SUPERNOVA 2008fw IN NGC 3261 Discovery by Berto Monard of a possible supernova (CBET 1521): SN 2008 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2008fw Sep. 19.13 10 28 55.97 -44 39 55.6 14.3 52 "W,30 "S N. Morrell, on behalf of the Carnegie Supernova Project, reports on spectroscopy of Sept. 28.39 UT with the Las Campans du Pont 2.5-m telescope showing it is a type-Ia supernova near maximum. SUPERNOVA 2008fv IN NGC 3147 P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) reports that a spectrum of 2008fv (discovery, TA E-Circular 2487) of Sept. 30 UT by P. Challis shows it to be a normal type-Ia supernova then about one week before maximum light. Guy M Hurst