THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS 25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665 INTERNET: aavso@aavso.org * * * AAVSO NEWS FLASH * * * Subject: SN 1998aq, AT Cnc, V442 Cen, ER UMa No. 288 April 14, 1998 ____________________________________________________________________________ SUPERNOVA 1998aq IN NGC 3982 We have been informed by G. M. Hurst (The Astronomer Electronic Circular No. 1288) and by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (IAU Circular 6875) of the discovery by M. Armstrong, England, of an apparent supernova of magnitude 14.9 on unfiltered CCD frames taken on April 13 in the course of the U.K. Nova/Supernova Patrol. The supernova is located at: R.A. = 11h56m26s.00 Decl. = +55 degrees 07'38".8 (equinox 2000.0) which is 18" west and 7" north of the center of NGC 3982. Ron Arbour, England, confirmed the presence of the object (at approximate magnitude 14.5) on unfiltered CCD frames taken on April 13. We are currently preparing an Alert Notice that will contain a chart and will be posted on the AAVSO web and ftp sites. We congratulate M. Armstrong on this discovery! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT CANCRI The dwarf nova type (Z Cam subclass) cataclysmic variable AT Cnc is in outburst as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials APR 07.0979 <14.0 MKJ APR 13.4194 13.2 SRX APR 12.0 <13.4 CGF APR 14.0486 12.7 SWT APR 13.049 12.9 CGF APR 14.0722 13.1 MKJ APR 13.0653 13.2 BRJ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- V442 CENTAURI The dwarf nova type (SS Cyg subclass) cataclysmic variable AT Cnc appears to be in outburst as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials APR 05.4472 <14.4 SRX APR 13.4806 13.6 SRX According to the AAVSO International Database this star is fainter than visual magnitude 15.0 during quiescence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ER URSAE MAJORIS The dwarf nova type (SU UMa subclass) cataclysmic variable ER UMa is in outburst as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials APR 07.0708 <14.2 BMM APR 14.0944 12.9 SWT APR 12.2000 15.6 CTT APR 14.096 12.8 CGF APR 13.2000 13.7 CTT APR 14.1000 13.1 CTT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the following contributors for the data that they have provided for this News Flash: BMM - M. Biesmans, Belgium MKJ - J. McKenna, USA BRJ - J. Bortle, USA SRX - R. Stubbings, Australia CGF - G. Chaple, USA SWT - R. Stewart, USA CTT - R. T. Campbell, USA Please monitor these and other variable stars closely and phone-in, fax, or e-mail your observations to the AAVSO. Good observing! Janet A. Mattei ____________________________________________________________________________ Symbols may include: < = fainter than magnitude given (variable not seen) : = uncertain CCDV = Charge-coupled device with (V) filter If you would like to contribute to AAVSO NEWS FLASH, please send observations of unusual variable star activity to: observations@aavso.org Those who wish to subscribe (free of charge) or unsubscribe to NEWS FLASH may do so by sending a message to: observations@aavso.org If you would like data from the AAVSO International Database for research purposes, please send your request to: Janet Mattei, AAVSO Director, at aavso@aavso.org We look forward to including your observations in future editions of AAVSO NEWS FLASH! ___________________________________________________________________________