Electronic Telegram No. 29
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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POSSIBLE NOVA IN OPHIUCHUS
     Akira Takao, Kitakyushu, Japan, reports the discovery
of a possible nova on unfiltered CCD images taken with
a 120-mm f/4 telephoto lens.  Takao provides a position of
R.A. = 17h19m14s.4, Decl. = -27o22'37" (equinox 2000.0;
uncertainty +/- 20"), and the following approximate magnitudes:
2001 Apr. 18.806 UT, [12.6; 2002 Mar. 18.808, [11.6;
May 12.647, [11.6; 2003 Apr. 18.812, [11.6; July 10.598,
11.4; 16.523, 11.2.  L. A. G. Monard, Pretoria, S. Africa,
reports that the object appeared at mag 10.4 on an unfiltered
CCD image taken on July 17.821, providing the following
precise position end figures:  14s.10, 35".4 (uncertainty
+/- 0".2); Monards adds that nothing is visible at this
position on a red Digitized Sky Survey image.  V. Tabur,
Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory, reports an independent
discovery of this variable on unfiltered CCD images obtained with
a 140-mm f/2.8 telephoto lens, explaining that he initially
dismissed the object as a less-urgent variable star due
to its long presence on his past images, as shown by the
following magnitude estimates:  2003 Mar. 21.600, 12.9;
Apr. 5.652, 13.1; 29.579, 13.2; May 4.566, 13.1; 10.538,
13.1; 22.667, 13.0; 29.595, 12.6; June 16.534, 10.1; July
5.574, 9.8.  (Tabur provides position end figures 14s.2,
34", uncertainty +/- 5").  W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile,
reports the following magnitudes for the new object from
Technical Pan film exposures taken with an 85-mm f/1.5
Nikon lens (+ orange filter; uncertainties +/- 0.2 mag):
June 7.117, [11.1; 23.132, 10.4; July 14.985, 11.1.
T. Kato, Kyoto University, reports that ASAS-3 images
show the new object in outburst on June 15, with a peak of
V = 10.6 reached on June 26.  Visual magnitude estimate
by M. Linnolt, Honolulu, HI:  July 17.443, 10.8.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are intended to
      be preliminary announcements of items that later appear in the
      formal IAU Circulars.  Citations should normally be made to IAUCs
      rather than to CBETs.

                         (C) Copyright 2003 CBAT
2003 July 18                      (CBET 29)               Daniel W. E. Green