ASAS-SN Discovery of A Probable Supernova in 2MASX J04384102-4137212
ATel #6959; J. Brimacombe (Coral Towers Observatory), T. W.-S. Holoien, K. Z. Stanek, C. S. Kochanek, A. B. Danilet, G. Simonian, U. Basu, N. Goss, J. F. Beacom (Ohio State), B. J. Shappee (Hubble Fellow, Carnegie Observatories), J. L. Prieto (Diego Portales; MAS), D. Bersier (LJMU), Subo Dong (KIAA-PKU), P. R. Wozniak (LANL), D. Szczygiel, G. Pojmanski (Warsaw University Observatory), E. Conseil (Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables), R. A. Koff (Antelope Hills Observatory), S. Kiyota (Variable Star Observers League in Japan), B. Nicholls (Mt. Vernon Obs., New Zealand)
on 20 Jan 2015; 05:13 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Supernovae
Credential Certification: Thomas Holoien (tholoien@astronomy.ohio-state.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Supernovae, Transient
During the ongoing All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN or "Assassin"), using data from the double 14-cm "Cassius" telescope in Cerro Tololo, Chile, we discovered a new transient source, most likely a supernova, in the galaxy 2MASX J04384102-4137212:
Object RA (J2000) DEC (J2000) Disc. UT Date Disc. V mag
ASASSN-15bf 04:38:41.10 -41:37:26.21 2015-01-19.12 17.3
ASASSN-15bf was discovered in images obtained on UT 2015-01-19.12 at V~17.3 mag. We also marginally detect the object in images obtained on UT 2015-01-16.11. We do not detect (V>17.3) the object in images taken on UT 2015-01-13.27 and before. Images obtained by J. Brimacombe on UT 2015-01-19.20 with the RCOS 51-cm telescope in New Mexico and on UT 2015-01-19.92 with the LCOGT 1-m robotic telescope in Sutherland, South Africa confirm the discovery of the transient. This figure shows the archival DSS image of the host (left) and the LCOGT V-band confirmation image (right). The red circle has a radius of 3.0" and is centered on the position of the transient in the LCOGT image.
The position of ASASSN-15bf is approximately 4.7" South and 0.8" East from the center of the galaxy 2MASX J04384102-4137212 (z=0.048527, d=207 Mpc, via NED), giving an absolute V-band magnitude of approximately -19.3 (m-M=36.58, A_V=0.07). Follow-up observations are encouraged.
We thank LCOGT and its staff for their continued support of ASAS-SN. ASAS-SN is supported in part by Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation. For more information about the ASAS-SN project, see the ASAS-SN Homepage and the list of all ASAS-SN transients.
