Three recent optical transients from the Catalina Sky Survey
ATel #1399; A. J. Drake, R. Williams, A. Mahabal, S. G. Djorgovski, M. J. Graham (Caltech); E. C. Beshore, S. M. Larson (LPL/UA); E. Christensen (Gemini Observatory)
on 27 Feb 2008; 22:38 UT
Credential Certification: Andrew J. Drake (ajd@cacr.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Request for Observations, Cataclysmic Variable, Supernovae
Referred to by ATel #: 1416
We have detected three optical transients in Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) images obtained at the
Mt. Bigelow 0.7m Catalina Schmidt Telescope on 27 Feb 2008 UT. The CSS discovery observations
consist of four images spanning 30 to 40 minutes. The transients were unresolved,
and at the following J2000 coordinates:
For finding charts and discovery images please see: http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/ATEL/CSS.
The first transient is near the edge of a galaxy SDSS J113034.72+130914.0 (z=0.082, g ~ 17.9, r ~ 17.6,
(m-M) = 37.8). The transient is consistent with a supernova near maximum light at this distance.
This transient is not seen in CSS images taken on (or before) 31 January UT, nor is it present in
DSS, 2MASS, SDSS or Palomar-Quest images.
The second transient is present in past CSS, DSS and PQ images. It is approximately 3 magnitudes
brighter in the discovery images. This object is likely to be a dwarf nova variable. However, in
prior CSS image sequences there is evidence that this object is significantly variable on timescales
of minutes.
The third transient occurs at the location of an anonymous 22nd magnitude galaxy seen in SDSS images. Prior CSS images taken on 8 February UT show the transient at mag ~ 17.8. CSS images from 11 January UT and earlier do not show the transient. This may be supernova past maximum light.
Photometric and spectroscopic follow-up is requested.
All stationary CSS optical transients are detected and published as VOEvents in real-time
at http://voeventnet.org/feeds/Catalina.shtml and here http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/Catfeed.xml (RSS)
