2012CBET.3053....1C

F. Ciabattari and E. Mazzoni, Borgo a Mozzano, Italy, report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag 17.5) on unfiltered CCD images (limiting mag 19.5) obtained on Mar. 16.16 and 16.98 UT with a 0.5-m Newtonian telescope in the course of the Italian Supernovae Search Project. The new object is located at R.A. = 15:46:17.51, Decl. = +10:45:34.5 (equinox 2000.0; astrometry with respect to UCAC-2 stars), which is 3" west and 4" north of the center of the galaxy UGC 10026. Nothing is visible at this position on Palomar Sky Survey plates from 1988 May 18 (J plate; limiting mag 20.3) and 1989 Apr. 6 (F plate; limiting mag 20.3) or on images taken by the discoverers on 2012 Mar. 2 (limiting magnitude 19.0). The variable was designated PSN J15461751+1045345 when it was posted at the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2012av based on the spectroscopic confirmation reported below.