3 March 2012: John Seach, Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia, reports his discovery of a possible nova in Carina [V834 Car] on 2012 February 26.543 UT at magnitude 10.2 on 3 images with digital SLR, 50 mm f/1.0 lens. No object was seen at the location on survey images taken on February 23.424 UT 2012. A possible image of the nova was seen at magnitude 11 (limit of visibility) on an image taken on February 25.733 UT 2012. Seach reports no object was seen on the POSS2 red image, and no variable star, comet, or minor planet was reported at the position.
The object was confirmed by Arto Oksanen, Muurame, Finland, and Caisey Harlingten at V=10.4 from CCD images taken 2012 March 1.1552 UT with a 0.50-m telescope in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Oksanen provides coordinates RA 10 50 19.66 Dec. -64 06 46.7 (J2000.0), and comments that the object looks brighter in Blue. Their V-band image is at http://pilvi.dyndns.org/arto/TCPJ10502000-6406480-S001-R001-C001-V.jpg. A light curve from their 5-hour run on March 1 is at: http://pilvi.dyndns.org/arto/TCPJ10502000_20120301V.png.
This object was announced on the Central Bueau for Astronomical Telegrams Transient Objects Confirmation Page (TOCP) as TCP J10502000-6406480.
VI photometry by Josch Hambsch (HMB), Mol, Belgium, and BVRI photometry by Terrence Bohlsen (BHQ), Armidale, NSW, Australia, show the object at V=10.681 as of March 3.3635. Data may be viewed using the AAVSO Light Curve Generator (http://www.aavso.org/lcg) or Quick Look File (http://www.aavso.org/ql).
Coordinates: RA 10 50 20 Dec. -64 06 48 (J2000.0)
Charts: Finder charts may be plotted using the AAVSO International Variable Star Plotter (VSP) at http://www.aavso.org/vsp.
Until the nature of this object is determined and an official name assigned, please report observations to the AAVSO International Database as TCP J10502000-6406480.
This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by Elizabeth O. Waagen.
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