-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2625      2010 Feb 22 20.33UT
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NOVA OPHIUCHI 2010 No. 2
K. Imamura and K. Tanabe, Okayama University of Science (OSU), report on 
CBET 2179 that a low-resolution spectrum of the presumed nova (TA 
E-Circular 2624), obtained on Feb. 19.850 UT with the 0.28-m OUS 
telescope (+ DSS-7), shows a clear H_alpha feature with P-Cyg profile, 
which suggests that the object is a genuine classical nova.

M. Fujii (Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan) also obtained a low-resolution 
spectrum on Feb. 19.86 UT with his 0.28-m telescope.  In addition to the 
Balmer lines with P-Cyg profile, Fujii noticed a Fe II (37, 42, 49) 
emission feature, which suggests that the variable is a "Fe II class" 
nova.

Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero, Italy report to TAHQ that their 
unfiltered CCD images using the Mayhill 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector on Feb. 
20.5 UT show the new object at magnitude about 9.4 at the following 
precise position:
RA 17h 26m 32.15s DEC -28d 49' 41.8" (2000).
Their animation showing a comparison between their image and the 
archival Digitised Sky Survey plate is posted at website URL 
http://bit.ly/b7JFXt

Martin Mobberley also obtained an image remotely using GRAS 006 in 
Australia (0.4-m f/8.4) + STL 1001E, 60 second exposure on 2010 Feb 
20.769UT.

SUPERNOVA 2010ab IN PGC 27294
The object reported on TA E-Circular 2623 and found by Tom Boles has 
been designated Supernova 2010ab.
Following an appeal by the Central Bureau, P. Corelli, Pagnacco, Italy, 
reports magnitude 18.3 and position end figures 55.89s, 00.3" for 2010ab 
from a eight 90-s co-added unfiltered CCD frames taken on Feb. 13.92 
with a 45-cm f/4.4 reflector.
J. Brimacombe, Australia, using a remotely operated 50-cm reflector at 
New Mexico Skies, Mayhill, NM, U.S.A., measured mag 18.9 (and offset 7" 
east and 3" north of the host-galaxy core) for 2010ab from five 600-s 
co-added images (limiting magnitude 20) on Feb. 14.08; his image at the 
following website URL: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/4356068574/

M. Fraser, et. al., Queens University, Belfast and others report on CBET 
2182 that a spectrum obtained at the William Herschel Telescope (+ ISIS; 
range 320-1000nm) on Feb. 22.10 UT.  The spectrum shows a blue continuum 
with Balmer lines typical of a young type-II supernova. The spectrum 
gives a good match to those of several type-II supernovae close to 
maximum light.  A redshift of z = 0.046 was estimated from the narrow 
Balmer lines of the host galaxy. Taking the magnitude of 17.8 reported 
on CBET 2172, SN 2010ab has an absolute mangitude of -18.6, which is 
consistent with the magnitude of bright type-II supernovae.

SUPERNOVAE 2009nc-2009nj
CRTS discoveries of faint supernovae in unfiltered Catalina Sky Survey 
(CSS) images of 2009 Nov 8-Dec 17 have been assigned the above.

Guy M Hurst