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Optical transient in NGC 300
May 16, 2008

IAU Circular 8946 (Daniel W.E. Green, ed.) reports the discovery of an
optical transient in the bright spiral galaxy NGC 300 by L.A.G. Monard
of Pretoria, South Africa.  The object was initially detected at an
unfiltered magnitude of 16.5 on 2008 April 24.16 UT (JD 2454580.66),
and has since brightened to magnitude 14.2 on 2008 May 15.14 
(JD 2454601.64).  Subsequent spectroscopy of this object by H.E. Bond
(STScI), F.M. Walter (Stony Brook U.), and J. Velasquez (CTIO) indicate
that the object is not a typical nova, supernova, or LBV; they suggest
the object may be similar to the peculiar object V838 Mon which erupted
in 2002.

The object is located at RA: 00 54 34.16 , Dec: -37 38 28.6 (J2000).

It is well within the galaxian light of NGC 300, but is in a relatively
uncrowded position within the galaxy.  Nothing appears at this location
on DSS images.

Photometry of this object is strongly encouraged.  Finding charts for
this object may be generated by entering the coordinates above into VSP:

http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/

A follow-up Special or Alert Notice will be issued when further information
is available.

Congratulations to Berto Monard on another exciting discovery!

This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by Matthew Templeton.


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