Supernova Candidate ROTSE3 J125111.9+261740
ATel #1421; F. Yuan, M. D. Sisson, D. Chamarro, C. Akerlof (U. Mich.), R. Quimby (Caltech) and J. C. Wheeler (U. Texas) on behalf of the ROTSE collaboration
on 13 Mar 2008; 22:29 UT
Credential Certification: Fang Yuan (yuanfang@umich.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Request for Observations, Nova, Supernovae, Transient
We report the discovery of an optical transient, located at RA: 12:51:11.89 Dec: +26:17:40.2 (J2000, uncertainty <1"), in unfiltered CCD images taken with the 0.45-m ROTSE-IIIb telescope at McDonald Observatory. This position is 0.6" east and 2.4" north from an extended object (r=18.0) seen in SDSS. The transient is not resolved from this background object in ROTSE-III images and was discovered by subtracting a reference image constructed from images taken in 2006. It was first observed at 18.7+/-0.1 mag on Mar. 5.34 UT and was last observed at 17.9+/-0.1 mag on Mar. 13.33 UT. The magnitudes are unfiltered calibrated to UNSO-B1.0 R. Based on its lightcurve and location, we propose it to be a candidate for a type Ia SN. Spectroscopic observations are needed to confirm its nature.
A finding chart of the transient can be found at http://rotse.net/rsvp/j125111.9+261740/j125111.9+261740.jpg and a preliminary lightcurve at http://rotse.net/rsvp/j125111.9+261740/j125111.9+261740.png
