[BAA-ebulletin 00641] Supernova Candidate in NGC3239

[Rick]

[BAA-ebulletin 00641]  Supernova Candidate in NGC3239
(c) 2011 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/

Supernova Candidate in NGC3239

The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams report on their "Transient Objects Confirmation Page" that PSN J10250739+1709146 was discovered on 2012/01/07.387 by B.Moore, Jack Newton, and Tim Puckett in NGC 3239 at R.A. = 10h25m07s.38, Decl. = +17°09'14".6.  The object is located 24".65 east and 16".1 south of the center of NGC 3239. Discovered at mag 14.6 this object has already risen to mag 13.8.

According to Yi Cao et al as reported on the Astronomer's Telegram #3855 this is a Type II supernova.

Care needs to be taken when observing this object as there is a bright mag 10 star nearby which appears in front of the galaxy.

PSN J10250739+1709146 is a temporary designation until a more formal one is assigned and so should be used when reporting any observations.

Roger Pickard,
Director BAA VSS
10th January 2012

[Rick]

[BAA-ebulletin 00642]  Supernova Candidate in NGC3239 = SN2012
(c) 2011 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/

Further to yesterday's announcement of the discovery of this relatively bright supernovae I can advise that it has now received the formal designation of 2012A so please use this latter name when reporting observations.

Roger Pickard,
Director BAA VSS
11th January 2012

[MarkS]

It's in Leo in one of those interesting distorted galaxies in the ARP catalogue.  Could be worth an image once the moon vacates the vicinity.

Mark

[Rick]

It's been discovered before peak brightness, so it might be worth a try anyway.