Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 4441: 1987L; 1987u; 1987 OA
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Read IAUC 4442
Circular No. 4441
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-495-7244/7440/7444
SUPERNOVA 1987L IN NGC 2336
A telex received on Aug. 17 from J. Bryan, Georgetown, Texas,
reported his apparent confirmation that morning (at mv = 14.5) of
a possible supernova found in NGC 2336 (R.A. = 7h16m.2, Decl. = +80 20',
equinox 1950.0) by Dana Patchick, Malibu, California. On Aug. 16
Patchick had noted a star of mv = 14.2 loctated 40" east and 75"
south of the galaxy's nucleus. He had also suspected an object in
the same location at mv = 13.5 on July 27 in the dawn sky but had
not been able immediately to confirm its reality.
Following further requests for confirmation A. V. Filippenko
(who was not informed of the discovery until late on Aug. 20),
University of California at Berkeley, reports that a spectrum (range
394-830 nm, resolution 1.4 nm) obtained on Aug. 21 UT by M. A.
Strauss with the 3-m Shane telescope at Lick Observatory shows
that SN 1987L is a Type II object, probably 1-2 months past maximum
brightness. Very strong, broad (FWHM < 11 000 km/s) H alpha
emission is visible, together with blueshifted absorption. Other P-
Cygni profiles, such as those of H beta and He I/Na D 589 nm, are also
present. The supernova is located in a spiral arm.
COMET RUDENKO (1987u)
J. B. Tatum, University of Victoria, provides the following
precise position, obtained with a 0.25-m reflector:
1987 UT R.A. (1950) Decl.
Aug. 22.24583 14 04 45.33 +33 37 37.9
Total visual magnitude estimate by C. E. Spratt, Victoria, BC
(0.44-m reflector): Aug. 22.22 UT, 9.7 (comet diffuse; no tail).
1987 OA
The following precise positions from the discovery plate (cf.
IAUC 4436) have been measured by J. Alu (under the direction of E.
Helin for the International Near-Earth Asteroid Survey):
1987 UT R.A. (1950) Decl.
July 29.24375 19 10 18.55 +12 57 51.5
29.28889 19 10 06.00 +12 58 46.1
1987 August 22 (4441) Brian G. Marsden
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