2003IAUC.8166....1T

On July 17, Akira Takao, Kitakyushu, Japan, reported the discovery of a possible nova on unfiltered CCD images taken with a 120-mm f/4 telephoto lens, providing a position of R.A. = 17h19m14s.4, Decl. = -27o22'37" (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty ± 20"), and the following approximate magnitudes: 2001 Apr. 18.806 UT, [12.6; 2002 Mar. 18.808, [11.6; May 12.647, [11.6; 2003 Apr. 18.812, [11.6; July 10.598, 11.4; 16.523, 11.2. L. A. G. Monard, Pretoria, S. Africa, reported that the object appeared at mag 10.4 on an unfiltered CCD image taken on July 17.821, providing the following precise position end figures: 14s.10, 35".4 (uncertainty ± 0".2); Monard adds that nothing is visible at this position on a red Digitized Sky Survey image. V. Tabur, Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory, reports an independent discovery of this variable star on unfiltered CCD images obtained with a 140-mm f/2.8 telephoto lens, explaining that he initially dismissed the object as a less-urgent variable star due to its long presence on his past images, as shown by the following magnitude estimates: 2003 Mar. 21.600, 12.9; Apr. 5.652, 13.1; 29.579, 13.2; May 4.566, 13.1; 10.538, 13.1; 22.667, 13.0; 29.595, 12.6; June 16.534, 10.1; July 5.574, 9.8. (Tabur provides position end figures 14s.2, 34", uncertainty ± 5"). T. Kato, Kyoto University, reports that ASAS-3 images show the new object in outburst on June 15, with a peak of V = 10.6 reached on June 26.