Electronic Telegram No. 1578 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 2008hi IN MCG -01-2-15 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Yoshimi Ichimura (Yoshimi-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama-ken, Japan) of an apparent supernova (mag 15.2) on 120-s unfiltered CCD frames (limiting mag 18.8) taken around Nov. 21.54 and 22.574 UT using a 0.28-m f/8.1 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector. Ichimura measured position R.A. = 0h26m43s, Decl. = -3o35'56' (equinox 2000.0) for the new object. A careful measurement by Nakano of Ichimura's BMP image yields mag 15.4 and R.A. = 0h26m43s.00, Decl. = -3o35'53".4, which is 8" west and 3" south of the center of MCG -01-2-15; Nakano adds that there is some uncertainty in both position and brightness of 2008hi because of the host galaxy's background light, nothing that the new object is about the same brightness as some nearby 15th-mag foreground stars. Ichimura notes that nothing is visible at this position on his frame taken on 2005 Dec. 19 (limiting mag 18); Nakano adds that nothing is visible at this position on Palomar Sky Survey red and infrared images. Nakano also reports that K. Itagaki (Yamagata, Japan, 0.60-m reflector + unfiltered CCD) measured mag 15.5 and position end figures 43s.16, 55".3 for 2008hi from his image taken on Nov. 22.358. NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 November 23 (CBET 1578) Daniel W. E. Green