Cosmologist Peter Dunsby of the University of Cape Town has reported on 'The Astronomers Telegram' (http://www.astronomerstelegram.org) his discovery of a 'bright optical transient' in the area near M8 and M20. I include an image of his report and a followup posted within an hour of the first.
12 more days and it would have been rather funny ... April 1st.
The fact that it made an Atel is beyond belief.
While on the "transient" should "they" attack while close by ...oh Mr T! If only.
I have had a very very very experienced astronomer call me up to ask about the very same thing,I was at first incredulous that such a person would not even check a planesphere, Ephemeris astronomy 2016 which was the year when he rang me.
He also didn't know were Saturn was either.
It has happened previous to that by a guy who has a public outreach observatory.
Just amazing really that astronomers don't know were the planets are
Sad really
Cheers
Ron, I know quite a few astronomers who have never looked through a telescope, let alone own one! They are interested in the theory, not the practice.
I know Brian Cox bought a TOA-130 AFTER visiting with some mates in Canberra
Lewis,The first person I am talking about is very experienced Amateur astronomer
And has many many hours under his belt at the telescope.
The second has a public observatory and does paid astronomy shows.
I know quite well that professional astronomers may not have telescopes etc,but A few that I know got their interest in Astronomy from very young being amateur astronomers
One such professional astronomer who was at Siding Spring observatory used to come up here at Cambroon as a boy and use my telescopes.
Cheers
PS On reflection,I should be proud they they chose to ring me to check
Ron, I know quite a few astronomers who have never looked through a telescope, let alone own one! They are interested in the theory, not the practice.
Last time I checked, Stellaium was free, along with a zillion Android/Apple apps... and I'm sure every astronomer has a smart phone by now, NO telescope needed.
Sound incredibly irresponsible to not check before spewing out an alarm.
In one of his Docos he had a Vixen atlux mount set up, wonder if it was his
On a lot of his shows,including the sky at night and others were he is out under the stars he has a SCT with him.
I'm sure he was an amateur astronomer besides being in a band. ?
Sound incredibly irresponsible to not check before spewing out an alarm.
Agreed, and that is the concern here, not at all that he didn't know what was in the Sky at the time, that can be forgiven. Geez I would be hard pressed without checking.
I can understand some over eagerness to report but that has to be held back while diligence is applied.
To go straight to an Atel and announce it ..AND with credential certification given is beyond me.
BOSS has had 178 announcements through CBETS & Atels, we are looking at faint stuff and to date not one wrong report. Indeed, even before Greg Bock and I announced the SN in NGC5128 (sn2016adj) we went through the pain and process knowing full well that it might be announced by someone else before us.
The late great Brian Marsden would be turning in his grave.
In 1997 he chastised 2 amateur astronomers in IAU circulars 6736 & 6737 over sloppy work when they didn't check for minor planets before announcing 2 "supernova" discoveries in one galaxy.
I reckon sloppy use of a very useful tool in the ATels.
BOSS has had 178 announcements through CBETS & Atels, we are looking at faint stuff and to date not one wrong report. Indeed, even before Greg Bock and I announced the SN in NGC5128 (sn2016adj) we went through the pain and process knowing full well that it might be announced by someone else before us.
The late great Brian Marsden would be turning in his grave.
In 1997 he chastised 2 amateur astronomers in IAU circulars 6736 & 6737 over sloppy work when they didn't check for minor planets before announcing 2 "supernova" discoveries in one galaxy.
It's the greatest fear isn't it Peter and one that drives you to check and check again. There is a funny side to it though and I really feel for Peter Dunsby, hope he gets over it and sees the funny side too. Maybe in future, amateur nova and supernova hunters won't need to feel mortified and ashamed if they report something that turns out to be a known star or asteroid or an LPV or even a cosmic ray strike. They can say "Hey I stuffed up, but at least I didn't do a Dunsby!".
oh dear, oh dear..... 
There is a funny side to it though and I really feel for Peter Dunsby, hope he gets over it and sees the funny side too. Maybe in future, amateur nova and supernova hunters won't need to feel mortified and ashamed if they report something that turns out to be a known star or asteroid or an LPV or even a cosmic ray strike. They can say "Hey I stuffed up, but at least I didn't do a Dunsby!". 
