Electronic Telegram No. 1636 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html SUPERNOVA 2008in IN M61 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Koichi Itagaki (Teppo-cho, Yamagata, Japan) of an apparent supernova (mag 14.9) on unfiltered CCD frames (limiting mag 18.0) obtained on Dec. 26.79 and 27.695 UT using a 0.30-m f/8 reflector at his Takanezawa station (Tochigi-ken). The new object is located at R.A. = 12h22m01s.77 +/- 0s.01, Decl. = +4o28'47".5 +/- 0".4 (equinox 2000.0), which is 102" east and 22" north of the center of M61 (= NGC 4303). Nothing is visible at this location on his past frame taken on 2000 Mar. 27 (limiting magnitude 19.0). Nakano adds that K. Kadota (Ageo, Japan, 0.25-m f/5 reflector) found mag 15.1 and position end figures 01s.77, 48".3 for 2008in from an unfiltered CCD image taken on Dec. 27.680 (limiting mag 17.7). Following posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage, W. Wells (Oklahoma City, remotely using a 30.5-cm Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain telescope near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.) reports the following magnitudes for 2008in on Dec. 28.458: V = 14.3, R = 13.2. SN 2006ov also appeared in this galaxy (cf. CBET 756, 757; also discovered by Itagaki). NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 December 29 (CBET 1636) Daniel W. E. Green