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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1723      2001 Dec 17 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             GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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SUPERNOVA 2001ih IN MCG +06-40-3 (Q2001/272)
On 2001 Dec 11 at 18.45UT Tom Boles reported that he had detected a
possible supernova in MCG +6-40-3 on 2001 Dec 10.77397UT, 6" west
and 1" south of the nucleus of the galaxy using a 0.36-m Schmidt-
Cassegrain telescope and an unfiltered CCD. The discovery image of
30 seconds integration recorded the suspect at R=17.7 and had a
limiting magnitude of 18.5.

The following position was derived:

RA 18h 05m 45.00s DEC +34 45' 04.0" (2000).

Subsequently he again recorded it on Dec 11.72588UT on a 60 second
integration deriving end figures of RA 44.9s; DEC 03.3" (2000).

He noted the object was absent from his master image of 2001 Sept.
21.88882UT where a 60 second integration had a limiting magnitude
of 19.0.   

Although two Palomar Sky Survey II images of 1993.609 (red) and
1990.554 (blue) had limiting magnitudes of about 21, the galaxy was
burnt out and thus obscuring the position of the suspect.

Subsequently Mark Armstrong secured an independent image on 2001
Dec 14.757UT (60 seconds) using a 0.36-m Schmidt-Cassegrain with
unfiltered CCD and this confirmed the object was present.

The Central Bureau advise that a spectrum has not yet been obtained
but a provisional announcement has been made on IAUC 7776 with the
designation 2001ih.

Congratulations Tom.

Guy M Hurst