Amateur Discoveries

Supernova 1995V in NGC 1087 was discovered visually by a team of observers using the forty inch telescope at Siding Spring Observatory on August 1. The team comprised long-time A.A.V.S.O. observer Tom Cragg, Western Sydney amateur club leader John Jarmen, and myself.

Supernova 1995ad in NGC 2139 was discovered visually from my back yard, using my 41cm telescope, and was the first one found in my search with this telescope for over two years.

Both of these supernovae were about magnitude 15, were of type Two, and were found around light. The one in NGC 1087 was fairly heavily reddened by material in the parent galaxy.

Supernova 1995al in NGC 3021 was discovered visually by Stefano Pesci and Piero Mazza, using a 35cm telescope, and was the brightest supernova of the year. A copy of Stefano's account of his find has been included in this circular. Congratulations to them both on their first discovery. Stefano has had a number of near misses in the past few years.