Electronic Telegram No. 2569
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
CBAT Director:  Daniel W. E. Green; Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau@eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat@iau.org)
URL http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/index.html
Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network


POSSIBLE SUPERNOVA IN NGC 1954
     Simone Leonini, Siena, Italy, reports the discovery of an apparent
supernova (mag about 16.8) on an unfiltered CCD image (limiting mag about 19.5)
taken on Dec. 5.011 UT during the Montarrenti Observatory Supernovae Search
program using a 0.53-m f/7.8 Ritchey-Chretien telescope (+ Apogee Alta U47 CCD
camera).  A confirming image (limiting mag about 19.5) showing the variable
at mag about 15.7 (with position end figures 49s.8, 50".0) was obtained on Dec.
6.701 UT by J. Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia, using a robotic 0.51-m RCOS scope
(+ SBIG STL11K CCD camera) near Mayhill, New Mexico.  The new object is located
at R.A. = 5h32m49s.44, Decl. = -14d05'45".9 (equinox 2000.0), which is 15" east
and 118" south of the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 1954.  No stellar source is
visible at this position in Leonini's past images, including two on 2009 Dec.
25.969 (limiting mag about 19.0), and the new object does not appear on Palomar
Sky Survey plates (1986 Dec. 10, infrared; 1981 Dec. 3, red and blue plates;
limiting mag 19.8).  The discovery image of the apparent supernova is posted at
website URL http://wwwjacopobaldi.it/dati/psn%20in%20NGC1954.jpg; the
confirmation image is posted at http://tinyurl.com/2vjwmyw.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2010 CBAT
2010 December 7                  (CBET 2569)              Daniel W. E. Green