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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2762      2011 Aug 25 20.15UT
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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PROBABLE SUPERNOVA IN M101 (PSN J14030581+5416254)
ATEL #3581 announces the discovery of a probable supernova in M101 by
the Type Ia supernova science working group of the Palomar Transient Factory.
The object, designated PTF11kly is at RA=14:03:05.81, Dec=+54:16:25.4 (J2000).
The supernova was discovered on Aug. 24 UT when it was at magnitude 17.2 in
g-band (calibrated with respect to the USNO catalog). There was nothing at
this location on Aug 23 UT to a limiting magnitude of 20.6. A preliminary
spectrum obtained Aug 24 UT with FRODOSPEC on the Liverpool Telescope
indicates that PTF11kly is probably a very young Type Ia supernova. Given
the early detection of the outburst it is possible that the object could
become brighter than magnitude 11.

The latest report from  Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia gives a magnitude
of 14.9 +/- 0.3 C on 2011 August 25.77.

A recent image can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6079704081/

Nick James (ndj@nickdjames.com)