2009CBET.1899....1N

Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan; and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan report their discovery of a possible nova (mag = 7.7) in Sagittarius on two 60-s frames on Aug. 6.494 and 6.495 UT using 105-mm f/4 lens + unfiltered CCD (limiting magnitude 13.3). They confirmed the discovery on five frames taken around Aug. 6.494 (0.40-m f/9.8 reflector + unfiltered CCD, limiting magnitude = 16.2) at the J2000.0 position R.A. = 18:07:07.67, Decl. = -33:46:33.9. They note that there was no motion during 80 minutes and that nothing is visible at this location on survey frames (limiting magnitude 12.7) on July 22.531 and 29.584 UT. The object is also absent on the DSS (POSS2/UKSTU red), ASAS, AAVSO, SIMBAD, 2MASS and USNO-B1.0, although this last catalogue shows a faint star (I = 12.45) nearby (at end figures 07s.509, 33".13). Grzegorz Pojmanski, Dorota Szczygiel and Bogumil Pilecki, Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory, subsequently reported independently that the ASAS3V instrument of the All Sky Automated Survey (telephoto lens 200/2.8, diameter 70 mm + CCD + Johnson V filter, three 3-minute exposures, pixel size 14".8) detected a stellar object at V = 7.78 on Aug. 6.182 UT at the approximate position R.A. = 18:07:08, Decl. = -33d 46'.6. The object was not visible on Aug. 4.152 UT. A lightcurve and images can be found at http://www.astrouw.edu.pl/cgi-asas/asas_disc/180708-3346.6,5040 .