Electronic Telegram No. 1261 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 2008al A. J. Drake, S. G. Djorgovski, M. J. Graham, A. Mahabal, and R. Williams, California Institute of Technology; E. Christensen, Gemini Observatory; and E. C. Beshore and S. M. Larson, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag approximately 17.6) in four 30-s exposures of the Catalina Sky Survey obtained on Feb. 13.10 UT using the 0.7-m f/1.9 Schmidt telescope (+ 4000- x 4000-pixel camera). The new object is located at R.A. = 2h46m07s.23, Decl. = -7o38'33".8 (equinox 2000.0) and appears associated with a galaxy catalogued by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (at position end figures 06s.79, 03".7, with z = 0.03 and magnitudes g about 15.2 and r about 14.4). Prediscovery images of 2008al were located from Feb. 7.10, when the object was at V about 17.3, but nothing is present at this position in images reaching mag about 20 taken on (or before) Jan. 13.09; also, no object is seen at this location in co-added archival Palomar Quest Survey and SDSS images reaching mag about 23. Specific details and links to discovery images can be found at website URL http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/ATEL/CSS/802130070154109278.html NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 February 15 (CBET 1261) Daniel W. E. Green