Discoveries

SN 2000C in NGC2415 (see IAUC 7348) was found by Steve Foulkes of Ashperton Village, England, UK, on 2000 Jan 8.789UT with an ST-7 camera. Steve captured the 60 second images at left through a 10" LX200 telescope as part of his contribution for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol. The cropped discovery image at far left shows NGC2415 and the SN. The image at near left shows the result of subtracting a master frame of NGC2415. In the subtracted image, the galaxy nearly disappears but the supernova remains clearly visible. Steve writes: "The object, of approx magnitude 16.6, was recorded on an unfiltered CCD (ST7) camera and the following semi-precise position measured RA 07h36m56s DEC +35 14'36" (2000) with estimated offsets of 7" east and 6" north of the galaxy nucleus."

Reference links: steve@sbfoulkes.freeserve.co.uk

Steve requests help in generating an accurate light curve of this event: "I would like to generate an accurate light curve for this SN, so if you could spare five minutes to image the galaxy and send the image to me, I would be most appreciative. I need the following information about the image Observer’s name, Location, Time of image (UT), Date, Telescope and exposure. Put this information in the file header. Do not apply any image processing to the image, but please subtract an appropriate dark image. Send any image (SBIG format) of the SN to steve@sbfoulkes.freeserve.co.uk (use WINZIP to compress the image if you have it)."

One month after taking delivery of a new ST-9E, Gary Hug and Graham Bell discovered a ~19th magnitude comet (located in the center of the highlight box on image at left). With a single exception we are informed that this is the faintest comet ever discovered by an amateur astronomer. Gary and Graham were using a 12" SCT at f/6.3. The discovery was made while blinking 6 minute exposures taken in search of an asteroid. Subsequent 10 minute and 20 minute exposures revealed the comet's tail. Gary Hug writes: "The comet (P/1999 X1 Hug-Bell) was discovered Dec 10th and has been published in the IAU Circular #7331. Orbital information shows this comet to orbit between Mars and just outside Jupiter's orbit (although some distance above the giant planet's path. It's currently about magnitude 18.5, located near the beehive cluster, and was magnitude 18.8 at discovery. The comet will maintain a near even brightness for the next few weeks then gradually fade. It's period is 7.01 yrs."

Chuck Faranda captured this pre-discovery image of supernova SN1998bu with an ST-6B camera from his backyard in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with a 10" SCT. The image is a combination of 6 x 120 second exposures. Pre-discovery images are an important tool for analyzing the rate at which supernova brighten. In the case of Type Ia supernova this can tell us something about how far away they are. According to International Astronomical Union Circular 6905, Chuck Faranda captured an image of NGC 3368 (M96) on May 3.14 UT using a 0.25-m reflector + unfiltered CCD camera that shows a prediscovery image of SN1998bu at mag 16.5 +/- 0.3. Congratulations, Chuck!

Gianluca Masi discovered another new minor planet, 1998 DA (10931) on the evening of February 16, 1998. To date, Gianluca has discovered the following minor planets using an ST-7 camera: 1998 DA (10931), 1998 TL7, 1999 CN10, 1999 CL12, 1999 NC1, 1999 PK, 1999QV1, 1999 RA, 1999 RN, 1999 RS2, 1999 RL35.

Update 10/25/99: Gianluca Masi informs us that two more minor planets have been added to his list: 1995 TN5 and 1999 TZ10. Please visit his website for more information.

Gianluca Masi discovered a variable star about 10' south of the Dumbbell Nebula after blinking a number of images taken over the previous months with his ST-7 camera. This star was not reported on the GCVS IVed. or on the NSV catalogues. The position of the star, based on the GSC is: R.A.: 19h 59m 41.92s, Dec: +22d 33' 49.6'' (J2000). The star is also present, probably near its maximum (as in Gianluca's 1996 images), on the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS).

Dennis di Cicco, an editor at Sky & Telescope Magazine, using an ST-7 and 16 inch telescope, has discovered 113 minor planets that have received preliminary designations. Of these he has been credited by the IAU as the principal discoverer of 4 (or perhaps 5 by now) with the expectation that he will be named the principal discoverer of somewhere between 24 and 36 more. Congratulations, Dennis!

The picture at left is just one of Dennis' discovery images. It contains four objects he discovered. 1995 XB was found on December 3rd. 1995 YH2 and 1995 YJ2 were discovered on December 23rd and on Christmas eve he discovered 1995 YK2. All four asteroids are between 16th and 17th magnitudes. This image is a composite of three 4-minute exposures with an SBIG ST-7 CCD camera taken through a 16-inch LX200 SCT with an f/3.3 focal reducer.

In a great "How To" article, Dennis explains how you can get started asteroid hunting, too. An 8" scope and a CCD camera is all it takes. Check out the links below.

Dan Kaiser submitted this precision light curve of LD282, a recently discovered eclipsing binary. Dan writes: "This light curve along with much more data have just been submitted to the AAVSO for publication in their journal. This is a very interesting EB with a primary eclipse almost 3 magnitudes deep and a secondary eclipse of 0.11 in the V filter. Note the Y scale on the secondary eclipse light curve [not shown] is only 0.2 V. This data was collected with a 1995 model ST-6, Johnson V filter and a C-14 @ f/7."
Thanks Dan.

Reference Links:
Primary Eclipse Light Curve
Secondary Eclipse Light Curve
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Gary Hug writes:
"After seeing a few entries of asteroid discoveries made by amateurs, we thought we'd let you know the FAST program at Farpoint Observatory, (Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers League), has discovered 46 asteroids since November 1998, including an Amor-type NEO. 1999 RO36 was listed by us on the Minor Planet Centers Neo Confirmation Page on Sept 11th, 1999. While it comes no closer 0.23 AU's, this faint object (19th mag at discovery), was discovered at Farpoint by Gary Hug, using an SBIG ST-7 and an AO-7 on a Meade LX200 12" at F/6.3. The integrations were 6 minutes long. The images were then shipped via e-mail to Graham Bell, (another Fast team member), who performed the astrometry and relayed the information to the MPC. Within the next few days many observing stations around the world reported positional data to the MPC and within that time the orbit of 1999 RO36 accurately defined. 1999 RO36 will not be easily seen again for decades as its orbit rarely brings it close to the earth."

The Astronomical Observatory of Campo Catino, Italy, has discovered a number of new minor planets in recent months. The four latest discoveries made in October, 1999, with their ST-8 camera are: 1999 N9, 1999 TO, 1999 TP, and 1999 TQ. Campo Catino has a follow up page at their web site for tracking these new discoveries. Dr. Franco Mallia is the Scientific Director of Campo Catino Astronomical Observatory.

At left is an image of 1999 BN7 and 1999 BO7 also discovered by the Observatory in January, 1999.