2012CBET.3267....1L

V. Lipunov (Sternberg Astronomical Institute at Lomonosov, Moscow State University) reports the discovery by S. Shurpakov of an apparent supernova (magnitude 16.7) on unfiltered 60-s images obtained with the MASTER-Amur robotic telescope (0.40-m f/2.5) on Oct. 20.711 and 20.742 UT. The new object is located at R.A. = 2:30:52.04, Decl. = +22:28:45.9 (equinox 2000.0), which is 19".7 east and 33".2 north of the nucleus of the core of the likely host galaxy PGC 9572 (though they note that there are two smaller galaxies that are closer to the new object than is PGC 9572, with their regions overlapping). Nothing is visible at the position of the new object on a color-combined Sloan Digital Sky Survey image from 2009 Jan. 11 (limiting magnitude about 23) or on a MASTER-Amur image from 2011 Sept. 6.723 (limiting mag 18.8). The discovery and reference images are posted at the following website URL: http://master.sai.msu.ru/static/OT/023052.04222845.9.png. The variable was designated PSN J02305204+2228459 when it was posted at the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2012fk based on the spectroscopic confirmation reported below. Additional CCD magnitudes for 2012fk: Oct. 23.119, 17.3 (Federica Luppi and Luca Buzzi, Varese, Italy; 0.38-m f/6.8 reflector; position end figures 52s.09, 46".3; reference stars from CMC-14 catalogue); image posted at http://www.astrogeo.va.it/pub/TOCP/PSN_P9572.jpg); Oct. 23.198, 17.6 (Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia; luminance filter position end figures 52s.01, 47".3; image posted at the following website URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/8117697662/); Oct. 23.199, 17.2 (R. A. Koff, Bennett, CO, USA; Meade 0.25-m f/10 reflector + Apogee U-47 camera; some high clouds; limiting magnitude 19.5; position end figures 52s.09, 46".0; UCAC3 reference stars; image posted at the following URL: http://antelopehillsobservatory.org/SNpictures/PSNJ02305204+2228459final.jpg).