Special Notice #337: Bright transient near the galaxy NGC 5643 (Lupus)

February 15, 2013: As noted by Alexandre Amorim in the AAVSO Forums, a bright transient has appeared in the fringes of the face-on spiral galaxy NGC 5643, and has been published on the Transient Objects Confirmation Page at Harvard. (See http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J14323388-4413278.html [1] for more information.)  Rod Stubbings has since provided confirmation of the transient, estimating it at m(vis)=11.9 on 2013 Feb 15.514 UT (JD 2456339.014); we are not yet aware of spectroscopy that enables classification as a supernova or any other source.  This object has been added to VSX with the temporary designation PSN J14323388-4413278 . Observations of this object are encouraged to determine its nature and follow the outburst.

Both visual and CCD observations are encouraged, as is spectroscopy; spectroscopy could enable classification of this object, and should also be reported to CBAT (see http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/tocp.html [2] for details).

The object is located at the following (J2000) coordinates:

        RA: 14 32 33.88 , Dec: -44 13 27.8


A sequence for the field has been created by Mati Morel, and is available through AAVSO's Variable Star Plotter (http://www.aavso.org/vsp [3]).

If this object is confirmed as a supernova, we will issue an Alert Notice within 1-2 days.

Please promptly submit all observations to the AAVSO International Database via WebObs using the name "PSN J14323388-4413278".

This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by M. Templeton.

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