SUPERNOVA 2009fj IN ESO 267-16
G. Pignata, J. Maza, M. Hamuy, R. Antezana, L. Gonzalez, P. Gonzalez, P. Lopez, S. Silva, G. Folatelli, D. Iturra, R. Cartier, F. Forster, S. Marchi, and A. Rojas, Universidad de Chile; B. Conuel, Wesleyan University; and D. Reichart, K. Ivarsen, A. Crain, D. Foster, M. Nysewander, and A. LaCluyze, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on behalf of the CHASE project, report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag approximately 13.75 +/- 0.1) on an unfiltered image taken on May 27.02 UT with the 0.41-m 'PROMPT 5' telescope located at Cerro Tololo. The new object is located at R.A. = 12h06m22s.97 +/- 0".1, Decl. = -44°27'34".3 +/- 0".1 (equinox 2000), which is about 1".7 east and 40".1 south of center of the galaxy ESO 267-16. Nothing is visible at this position on archival images taken on Apr. 13.33 and 25.27 (limiting mag 18.0). N. Morrell, on behalf of the Carnegie Supernova Project, reports that a spectrum (range 340-960 nm) of 2009fj, obtained on May 31.12 with the du Pont 2.5-m telescope (+ Boller and Chivens spectrograph) at Las Campanas Observatory, shows that this is a type-Ia supernova several days past maximum light. Comparison with a library of supernova spectra, via the Supernova Identification tool (Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) reveals 2009fj to be very similar to SN 1992A at 12 days past maximum brightness. Assuming for the host galaxy, ESO 267-16, the NED recession velocity of 3108 km/s (Koribalsky et al. 2004, A.J. 128, 16) the minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm absorption is blueshifted by roughly 11400 km/s.

NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

2009 May 31

(C) Copyright 2009 CBAT (CBET 1822)

Daniel W. E. Green