[vsnet-alert 6461] SN 2001du in the Fornax cluster NGC 1365

[Hitoshi YAMAOKA <yamaoka@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp>]

Dear SN watchers,

  R. Evans has discovered a bright SN 2001du in the Fornax cluster
visually.  It is now mag around 14.  The distance of NGC 1365 is m-M =
31.31, which is comparable to the Virgo cluster, according to the HST
Cepheid observation. 

  SN 2001du was discovered on Aug. 24.7, but not visible on Aug. 23.7
(under poor condition).  The prediscovery image taken on Aug. 23.81
shows this SN, but the image taken on Aug. 15.76 does not.  It seems
to be a fresh object.  The reported position is: R.A. = 3h33m28s.7,
Decl. = -36o08'32" (2000.0), which is about 90" due west of the
nucleus of the bright and large barred-spiral ((R')SBb(s)b Sy1.8)
galaxy NGC 1365.  This position coinsident to the western end of the
galaxy's central bar, and it superimposed on the H II regions.  There
are several bright (the brightest one is mag about 13, about 70" NNW
of the nucleus) foreground stars around this galaxy, which are not
cataloged in GSC or USNO-A2.0.  

  NGC 1365 is one of the target of the key project of the Hubble Space
Telescope, i.e., the measurements of the Cepheid distance (See 
http://vsnet.oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/21.html).  It is measured
as m-M = 31.31, which is approximately same as one for the Virgo
cluster.  Thus, the typical SN Ia is expected to reach mag 12.5 or so.
NGC 1365 has produced two other SNe 1983V (Ib, discovered at mag 13.5
thus declined) and 1957C (I, discovered at mag 16.5 thus declined).
Also, NGC 1316, the other member of the Fornax cluster, has produced
SNe Ia 1980N (mag 12.5) and 1981D (mag 12.6).  The spectroscopic
confirmation the follow-up observation in all wavelength are extremely
urged. 

Sincerely Yours,
Hitoshi Yamaoka, Kyushu Univ., Japan
yamaoka@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp

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