SIMBAD references

E. Briggs, J. Newton, and T. Puckett report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag 17.7) on an unfiltered CCD image (limiting mag 19.1) taken with a 0.40-m reflector at Portal, AZ, U.S.A., on Feb. 21.2015 UT in the course of the Puckett Observatory Supernova Search. The new object, which was confirmed at mag 17.7 on Feb. 22.272 by Puckett with the 40-cm reflector at Portal, is located at R.A. = 10:01:27.20, Decl. = +36:40:12.0 (equinox 2000.0), which is 8".1 east and 4".0 south of the center of PGC 29010. Nothing is visible at this position on images taken by Puckett on 2011 Nov. 30 (limiting mag 19.0). The discovery image has been posted at the following website URL by Puckett: http://www.possdata.com/PSNJ10012720+3640120.jpg. The variable was designated PSN J10012720+3640120 when it was posted at the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2012ak based on the spectroscopic confirmation reported below. Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia, reports magnitude 18.9 and position end figures 27s.30, 12".4 from images taken remotely on Feb. 23.32 using a 51-cm RCOS telescope (+ STL11K camera + luminance filter) at the New Mexico Skies Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; his image is posted at website URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6778670932/.