Electronic Telegram No. 1228 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 2008Q IN NGC 524 M. Villi reports the discovery by Giancarlo Cortini (Predappio, Italy) of an apparent supernova (mag 16.5) on several unfiltered CCD images (limiting magnitude about 18.5) taken on Jan. 26.75 UT with a 0.35-m telescope at Monte Maggiore; Cortini initially provided only an offset from the center of the galaxy NGC 524 (160" east, 54" north) for the new object, later adding that nothing is present on previous images taken on 2004 Dec. 23.9 (limiting mag 19.0) and 2008 Jan. 1.95 (limiting mag 18.5) or on Palomar Sky Survey red and blue plates (limiting magnitude 21.5). Cortini subsequently provided additional information (via S. Moretti), giving mag 17.3 for 2008Q on Jan. 26.771, and adding that confirming images were taken by other Italian observers at his request: S. Moretti and S. Tomaselli (Bastia, Ravenna) on Jan. 26.812, and G. Cherini (Trieste) on Jan. 27.849 (mag 16.7, via an unfiltered CCD image). At this same time, Cortini provided the following precise position for the new object: R.A. = 1h24m57s.23, Decl. = +9o33'01".5 (equinox 2000.0 presumed), or 141" east and 42" north of the center of the nucleus of NGC 524, adding that the object had not moved some 24 hr later (Jan. 27.86). Cortini has posted finding charts for 2008Q at the following website URL: http://it.geocities.com/gruppoastrofiliforlivesi/524. Following posting of the initial report from Cortini on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage, P. Corelli (Pagnacco, Italy) writes that ten 30-s unfiltered CCD images taken with a 0.45-m f/4.5 telescope on Jan. 27.751 show 2008Q at mag 16.5 and R.A. = 1h24m57s.20, Decl. = +9o33'01".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 142" east and 42" north of the center of the nucleus of NGC 524. Corelli adds that nothing is visible on the Digitized Sky Survey (limiting red mag 20-21 presumed). Also, H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University, reports that K. Itagaki (Yamagata, Japan) confirmed 2008Q on an unfiltered CCD image taken on Jan. 27.389 with a 0.60-m reflector, measuring its magnitude as 16.8 and measuring the position end figures to be 57s.20, 01".7. NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 January 28 (CBET 1228) Daniel W. E. Green