Possible Supernova in NGC 4278

W. K. Ford, Jr., and V. C. Rubin, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institute of Washington; and B. Schaefer, Kitt Peak National Observatory, report that on Feb. 24.2 UT they visually observed a star of magnitude about 14-15 located 10" due north of the nucleus of the large, emission-line E1 galaxy NGC 4278. Available plates are all too well exposed to tell if the object is a foreground star, and spectroscopic observations made with the 400-cm reflector under poor conditions are inconclusive. Examination of the object by other observers is desirable.