Hamilton Amateur Astronomers
Maintained by Rob Roy
SUPERNOVA 1997X IN NGC 4691
We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (IAU Circular 6552) that S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports that Masakatsu Aoki, Tsukioka-cho, Toyama, Japan, has discovered a supernova at CCD magnitude 13.6 on nine unfiltered CCD frames taken February 1.76 UT with a 0.43-m f/6 reflector. No object was present on patrol films taken by Aoki on January 16. Y. Kushida, Yatsugatake South Base Observatory (YSBO), Japan, also reports that no object was present on a CCD patrol frame taken by R. Kushida, YSBO, on January 6. The supernova has been confirmed spectroscopically.
A position has been provided by Y. Kushida, using an unfiltered CCD image taken Feb 1.816 UT with an 0.40-m f/5 reflector by R. Kushida:
R.A. = 12h 48m 14.28s Decl. = -03o 19' 58.5" (2000)
For more information on this discovery and finder and 'e' scale AAVSO preliminary charts for this object please see the following ftp address:
http://www.aavso.org/alerts/alert236.txt
or the AAVSO web site:
OMICRON CETI
The Mira type variable star omicron Cet is currently having a very bright maximum. The brightness at maximum of omicron Cet can vary significantly from cycle to cycle. The last maximum of this star to be recorded in the AAVSO International Database was in early March of 1996, when the star reached a mean maximum magnitude of 3.6.
AM CASSIOPEIAE
The dwarf nova type (SS Cyg subclass) cataclysmic variable AM Cas is in outburst.
BV CENTAURI
The dwarf nova type (SS Cyg subclass) cataclysmic variable BV Cen appears to be in outburst
Please monitor these and other variable stars closely and phone-in, fax, or e-mail your observations to the AAVSO.
Good observing!
Rebecca Pellock
on behalf of
Janet A. Mattei
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Hamilton Amateur Astronomers
Maintained by Rob Roy
