------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2815 2012 Apr 14 11.40UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- OCCULTATION OF UCAC2 26033679 by (50000) QUAOAR Tim Haymes reports: An occultation of UCAC2 26033679 (magnitude 11.6) by The Trans-Neptunian object (50000) Quaoar is predicted for 2012 April 17, 0157-0217UT and visible from the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Near East and southern Europe. Detailed predictions for this bright star occultation can be found on the IOTA-ES web site: http://www.iota-es.de/ The TNO shadow (diameter about 1200km) passes over Central Africa. Observers from Southern Europe to South Africa could obtain an occultation. Predictions are often uncertain and the area of observability is correspondingly wide. Detection of a possible TNO atmosphere, or occultations by moonlets in addition to Weywot are also possible using video. Video / CCD detection is welcomed. The star is also within visual range. Observations both positive or negative can be reported to Tim Haymes ( assistant director-Asteroids and Remote Planets Section - BAA) or Mark Kidger, TA Planetary Editor, who will forward the observation. Timings of Disappearance and Reappearance to +/- 2 sec UT would be valuable. Finder charts: http://www.iota-es.de/quaoar_2012apr17/finding_charts.html Supplementary Charts: http://www.maidenhead-astro.net/astocc/ Info on 2012 TNO occultation campaign - http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/braga-ribas/campaigns/ Tim Haymes: tvh.observatory@btinternet.com POSSIBLE NOVA IN SCUTUM Observations by Martin Mobberley and others have failed to detect the object reported by Y. Sakurai mentioned in TA E-Circular 2814 SUPERNOVA 2012as IN UGC 9842 (ZHANGWEI JIN & XING GAO) 2012as Feb 17.93 15 25 08.52 +37 57 49.4 17.9 30.9"E, 12.9"N The Xingming images are posted at website URL http://www.xjltp.com/XOSS/XM37ZJ/XM37ZJ.htm M. Fraser: spectrum Mar 4 type-IIn supernova. Note that, at the distance of the host galaxy, the supernova has an absolute magnitude of -18, which strongly dis-favours this being a supernova impostor. SUPERNOVA 2012at IN PGC 16317 (CSS) 2012at Feb 6.51 04 54 52.81 -37 19 16.1 17.7 0.9"W 1.1"S M. Fraser: spectrum Mar 3 gives a good match to the type-Ic supernova 1995F, at +3 weeks. SUPERNOVA 2012av IN UGC 10026 (ITALIAN SUPERNOVA SEARCH) 2012av Mar 16.16 15 46 17.51 +10 45 34.5 17.5 3 "W 4 "N L. Tomasella: spectrum March 17 young type-II Guy M Hurst -- Guy Hurst