[BAA-ebulletin 00660] Re: Supernova Candidate in NGC3239

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

Two new reasonably bright supernovae have recently been announced as
detailed below.

SN 2012au in NGC 4790 in Virgo

Discovered by the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and Stan
Howerton (USA) at mag 18.2C on 2012 March 14.450 but it has rapidly
brightened and is currently at magnitude 13.25V.   This SN is of Type
Ib, and apparently found in the early stages of its evolution so it
may well brighten further.

However, it is vary close to the core of the host galaxy, but is the
brightest supernova so far this year. Recent images etc can be found
here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/watchingthesky/6846911246

NGC 4790 is at R.A. = 12h54m52s.18, Decl. = -10°14'50".2 and the SN is
located 3".5 east and 2".0 north of the center of NGC 4790.


Supernova Candidate PSN J10435372+1140177 in M95

PSN J10435372+1140177 was discovered on 2012 March 16.8493 by J.
Skvarc; Alessandro Dimai of the Italian Supernovae Search Project.

M95 is at R.A. = 10h43m53s.72, Decl. = +11°40'17".7 (= NGC 3351) and
the SN is located 60" west and 115" south of the center of M95.

A discovery image can be found here:
http://www.observatorij.org/vstars/PSN20120317/PSNJ10435372+1140177.jpg

Nick James has just reported an observations of this object at about
magnitude 13 and adds that unfortunately Mars is very close and has
caused significant interference with the image.  However, Mars will
continue to move further away as time progresses.

Further information on these and other supernovae can be found on the
extensive web page of the International Supernova Network and the
Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Sciences at:
http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html. to whom I'm most
grateful for some of this information.

Roger Pickard,
Director BAA VSS
roger.pickard at sky.com
19th March 2012