ASAS-SN Discovery of A Bright Transient near 2MASX J06145320-4247357

ATel #7455; J. Brimacombe (Coral Towers Observatory), Subo Dong (KIAA-PKU), K. Z. Stanek, T. W.-S. Holoien, C. S. Kochanek, A. B. Danilet, G. Simonian, U. Basu, N. Goss, J. F. Beacom, T. A. Thompson (Ohio State), B. J. Shappee (Hubble Fellow, Carnegie Observatories), J. L. Prieto (Diego Portales; MAS), D. Bersier (LJMU), P. R. Wozniak (LANL), E. Falco (CfA), D. Szczygiel, G. Pojmanski (Warsaw University Observatory), J. M. Fernandez (Observatory Inmaculada del Molino), G. Krannich (Roof Observatory Kaufering), B. Nicholls (Mt. Vernon Obs., New Zealand), J. Nicolas (Groupe SNAUDE, France), W. Wiethoff (University of Minnesota, Duluth)
on 28 Apr 2015; 15:56 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Supernovae
Credential Certification: Subo Dong (dongsubo@pku.edu.cn)

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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, bright transient source, possibly a supernova, near the galaxy 2MASX J06145320-4247357:

Object      RA (J2000)     DEC (J2000)       Disc. UT Date   Disc. V mag 
ASASSN-15ic  06:14:51.380   -42:47:56.03    2015-04-27.0    16.4

ASASSN-15ic was discovered in images obtained on UT 2015-04-27.04 at V~16.4. and it was also detected on UT 2015-04-24.03 at V~16.7. We do not detect (V>17.3) this object in images taken on UT 2015-04-21.08 and before. An image obtained by LCOGT 1.0m A in Dome A at Siding Spring on UT 2015-04-28.4 confirms 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 5.0" and is centered on the position of the transient in the LCOGT image.

The position of ASASSN-15ic is approximately 29" from the center of the galaxy 2MASX J06145320-4247357 (z=0.063724, d~260Mpc, via NED), 30" from the center of a possible galaxy GALEXASC J061451.60-424726.1 (no known redshift via NED), or 40" from the center of the galaxy GALEXASC J061448.06-424739.1 (no known redshift via NED). If this is indeed a supernova associated with 2MASX J06145320-4247357, this would give it an absolute V-band magnitude of approximately -20.9 (m-M=37.1, A_V=0.15). However, given the magnitude and location of the source, a large amplitude cataclysmic variable outburst is also a possible explanation. Follow-up observations, especially spectroscopy, 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.