ASAS-SN Discovery of A Probable Supernova in ESO 297-G037

ATel #7585; J. Brimacombe (Coral Towers Observatory), T. W.-S. Holoien, K. Z. Stanek, C. S. Kochanek, J. S. Brown, A. B. Danilet, G. Simonian, U. Basu, J. F. Beacom, T. A. Thompson (Ohio State), B. J. Shappee (Hubble Fellow, Carnegie Observatories), J. L. Prieto (Diego Portales; MAS), D. Bersier (LJMU), Subo Dong (KIAA-PKU), E. Falco (CfA), P. R. Wozniak (LANL), D. Szczygiel, G. Pojmanski (Warsaw University Observatory), E. Conseil (Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables), J. M. Fernandez (Observatory Inmaculada del Molino), S. Kiyota (Variable Star Observers League in Japan), B. Nicholls (Mt. Vernon Obs., New Zealand), J. Nicolas (Groupe SNAUDE, France), W. Wiethoff (University of Minnesota, Duluth)
on 3 Jun 2015; 15:17 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Supernovae
Credential Certification: Thomas Holoien (tholoien@astronomy.ohio-state.edu)

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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 transient source, most likely a supernova, in the galaxy ESO 297-G037.

ASASSN-15kj was discovered in images obtained on UT 2015-05-31.43 at V~17.1 mag. We also detect the object in images obtained on UT 2015-06-03.42 (V~15.6) and UT 2015-06-02.43 (V~16.2). We do not detect (V>15.5) the object in images taken on UT 2015-05-28.44 and before. An image obtained by J. Brimacombe on UT 2015-06-02.79 with the CDK 43-cm telescope at Savannah Skies Observatory confirms the discovery of the transient. This figure shows the archival DSS image of the host (left) and the J. Brimacombe confirmation image (right). The red circle has a radius of 5" and is centered on the position of the transient in the J. Brimacombe image.

The position of ASASSN-15kj is approximately 8.0" South and 14.7" West from the center of the galaxy ESO 297-G037 (z=0.018453, d=74.3 Mpc, via NED), giving an absolute V-band magnitude of approximately -17.3 (m-M=34.35, A_V=0.055). Properties of the new source and photometry are summarized in the tables below:

 
Object       RA (J2000)     DEC (J2000)      Disc. UT Date   Disc. V mag  Approx. Abs. Mag   Offset from Host (") 
ASASSN-15kj  01:58:11.53    -39:32:49.7      2015-05-31.43      17.1          -17.3               16.74 

 
Obs. UT Date         V mag 
2015-05-28.44        >15.5 
2015-05-31.43         17.1 
2015-06-02.43         16.2 
2015-06-03.42         15.6 

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.