[vsnet-chat 773] vsnet-chat, Re:767(Astro) SN,Novae,comet reports

["Steve H. Lucas" <76620.1721@compuserve.com>]

Mr. Jan Hers/All:

It appears that certain issues regarding this subject matter are being
brought up time and time again, even though the original events occured
over six months ago. I feel that there should be clarification of the
actual circumstances that formed the basis of this subject matter (I was
involved in the proceedings from the very beginning). All responses
probably should be sent utilizing private e-mail so not to burden the kind
hosts of this chat forum and others.

Jan Hers wrote (in part) on 3/18/98:

>>" but "inadvertently failing to stress the POSSIBLE nature of a
discovery" is NOT a simple oversight, it is a misdemeanour  which should
never be condoned."<<  

Mr. Hers:

The original note about the discovery of a suspect star was met with an
appropriate response, here is a public message (in part) that appeared
shortly after the notice on 9/6/97@4:30a.m:

>>"(Name withheld) has imaged a suspect star in NGC 772 on Sept. 5, using a
45cm + CCD".

On 9/6/97@7:26 p.m. this note (in part) was issued by the original observer
after many reports of the non-existence of a SN at the location, and his
own follow-up imaging:

>>"So at this point I'm concluding two bogies, yet further inspired."<<

So Mr Hers you can see that a "SUSPECT nature" was attached to the original
observation from the beginning and an admittance was also rendered about
its none-existence. The case, at this point in time was closed and we had
another false alarm on our hands. The only addition to this scenario is
that the image was posted in a controlled network of supernovae
hunters/researchers via the Internet. It should have remained there, but it
appears it was used outside of this environment by others? 

The activity regarding the subject matter of various discovery processes
(the topic of this conversation) that seem to still be with us began when a
SECOND report of a SN occured within the same galaxy, just before the
original observer posted his findings about the false alarm. THIS report
was issued within the normal confines of a SNe confirmation Network, PLUS
in other places. It is more than likely one of the reasons (and other
issues, see below) which prompted the issuance of IAUC #6737 about the
procedures that will allow a discovery to be made accessible to the
astronomical community.

>>"I did not notice VSNET and  the ISN  having been mentioned at all"<<

You are correct! I have known the author of "The Name of the Game" article
for many years and in private correspondance he assured me that there were
NO implications targeting any group or individual when he wrote the
article. In fact the original substance for the article had nothing to do
with a supernova.....

In conclusion, I would like to mention that I fear that with the usage of
the CCD camera by amateur astronomers, new problems have to be
addressed....we are new players in a game that in some cases rivals our
professional counterparts (depth of field). Another is that unsubstaniated
or solitary sightings HAVE to be scrutinized very carefully by that
particular researcher. Certainly the field of supernovae discovery is
competitive and anxiety and excitment sometimes over-shadow our normal
behaviour, but sometimes it takes a bit of time, and a team effort of not
so excited participants. I feel very deeply saddened that other areas of
discovery (novae) have had no one to turn to and thusly have lost valuable
scientific information...these things do sometimes "fall between the
cracks", but they spur us on to hopefully arrange personal adjustments.

Best Regards,

Steve H. Lucas
International Supernovae Network

VSNET Home Page

Return to Daisaku Nogami

---

vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp