SN 2003cg, 2003/4/1 UT

Despite the weather forecast a clear night materialized on Monday and my goal of viewing this recent supernova was realized.

I've done a fair bit of observing lately but haven't written up any reports. With any luck they'll be forthcoming. Be that as it may I'm posting a slightly modified version of the observing log that I sent to netastrocatalog this morning.

Dave Mitsky

Observer: Dave Mitsky
Your skills: Advanced (many years)
Date/time of observation: 2003/4/1 6:15 UT
Location of site: ASH Naylor Observatory (40.1 degrees N, 76.9 degrees W, Elevation 190 meters)
Site classification: Exurban
Sky darkness: ~5.0
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain equatorial mount
Magnifications: 162, 202, and 259x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): SN 2003cg, NGC 3169, NGC 3166
Category: Extragalactic star
Class: Subluminous type Ia supernova
Constellation: Sextans
Magnitude: ~14.0
Position: 10h14m, +03d28'
Description:
This recently discovered type Ia supernova was visible with averted vision. Its parent galaxy NGC 3169 and nearby NGC 3166, both eleventh magnitude Herschel 400 spiral galaxies, were easily seen. SN 2003cg was located within the glow of NGC 3169 - see http://messier45.com/cgi-bin/h400/i.cgi?n=3169&d=GX - making a sighting somewhat difficult. The supernova is situated 14" east and 5" north of NGC 3169's nucleus. An 11.3 magnitude field star lies almost due east. For more on this object, including images, see http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/

Thanks much for the links. The rochesterastronomy link is new to me; it's an eye opener.

Bob Polcyn