A Bright Supernova Candidate in NGC 4790

ATel #3967; S. Howerton (Arkansas City, KS), A. J. Drake, S. G. Djorgovski, A. A. Mahabal, M. J. Graham, R. Williams (Caltech); J. Prieto (Princeton); M. Catelan (PUC Chile); E. Christensen (Gemini Obs); E. C. Beshore, S. M. Larson (LPL/UA).
on 15 Mar 2012; 04:42 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Supernovae
Credential Certification: Andrew J. Drake (ajd@cacr.caltech.edu)

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We report the discovery of a bright supernova candidate in images taken on 2012-03-14 by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), and analyzed as part of the CRTS Supernova Hunt project. The new object, identified as PSN J12545218-1014502 (SNhunt117), was discovered at V=13.8 and is located near the core of the nearby (d=23.6 Mpc) galaxy NGC 4790. The source has coordinates RA: 12:54:52.18, Dec -10:14:50.2.

The object was recovered at V=18.2 in CSS data taken on 2012-03-04 UT. Images taken on 2012-02-22 UT do not show the object to V > 19. We obtained unfiltered follow-up observations on 2012-04-13.165 where the object was observed at mag 13.5.

The absolute magnitude and recent measurements suggest that this source may not yet have reached maximum. The host galaxy was observed by HST WFPC2 in 2001 as "An archive to detect the progenitors of massive, core-collapse supernovae" (Prop. 9042, PI Smartt). We encourage high precision astrometry to enable searches for a possible progenitor.

Follow-up observations at all wavelengths are encouraged.