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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2838      2012 Jly 08 11.58UT
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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NOVA SAGITTARII 2012 No. 4 = PNV J18202726-2744263
Koichi Nishiyama, and Fujio Kabashima, Japan, report their discovery of 
possible magnitude 7.8 nova on two 40-s unfiltered CCD frames (limiting 
magnitude 13.7) taken around 2012 July 7.4986 UT using a 105-mm f/4 
camera lens (+ SBIG STL6303E camera).  Five 3-s unfiltered CCD 
confirming frames (limiting magnitude 17.0) were taken around July 
7.5091 using a Meade 200R 0.40-m f/9.8 reflector (+ SBIG STL1001E 
camera). The object is located at:
RA 18h 20m 27.26s DEC -27 44' 26.3"(2000).

Additional magnitudes:  June 12.637, [13.6 (Nishiyama and Kabashima); 
June 13.609, [13.3 (Nishiyama and Kabashima); July 7.496, 8.9 
(Nishimura; independent discovery on four 15-s exposures as above; 
limiting mag 14.7; end figures 27s.11, 26".1); July 7.499, 7.8 (Kaneda; 
independent discovery on four unfiltered 3-s frames as above; limiting 
mag 8.7; position end figures 27s.59, 26".2).

Mitsugu Fujii (Okayama, Japan), obtained a low-resolution spectrum (R 
about 500, range 390-950 nm) on July 7.629 UT with a 40-cm telescope at 
the Fujii Kurosaki Observatory.  The spectrum shows Balmer series, Fe II 
multiplets 37, 42, 48, 49, 55, 73, and 74; Na I D; O I 777.3- and 
844.6-nm; and Ca II 849.8- and 854.2-nm lines in emission.  These 
features indicate that the variable is a "Fe II"-class nova.

Martin Mobberley advises TAHQ that he imaged the nova on July 8.344UT 
with 0.51-m f/4.5 CDK + PL11002M on a 60 second exposure with 
iTelescope.net.

SUPERNOVA 2012cu IN NGC 4772 (KOICHI ITAGAKI)
2012cu  Jun 14.55   12 53 29.35  +02 09 39.0  16.3   3.1"E   27.1"S
G. H. Marion: spectrum June 15 type-Ia approaching maximum brightness. 
The spectrum is very red, which is attributed to extinction.

Guy Hurst reports that on 2012 June 20.21UT using the Sierra Stars 
0.61-m Cassegrain telescope V photometry gave magnitude 15.2 and a 
significant brightening since discovery.

Guy M Hurst