Supernova 2008in in M61

S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Koichi Itagaki (Teppo-cho, Yamagata, Japan) of an apparent supernova (mag 14.9) on unfiltered CCD frames (limiting mag 18.0) obtained on Dec. 26.79 and 27.695 UT using a 0.30-m f/8 reflector at his Takanezawa station (Tochigi-ken). The new object is located at R.A. = 12h22m01s.77 +/- 0s.01, Decl. = +4o28'47".5 +/- 0".4 (equinox 2000.0), which is 102" east and 22" north of the center of M61 (= NGC 4303). Nothing is visible at this location on his past frame taken on 2000 Mar. 27 (limiting magnitude 19.0). Nakano adds that K. Kadota (Ageo, Japan, 0.25-m f/5 reflector) found mag 15.1 and position end figures 01s.77, 48".3 for 2008in from an unfiltered CCD image taken on Dec. 27.680 (limiting mag 17.7). Following posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage, W. Wells (Oklahoma City, remotely using a 30.5-cm Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain telescope near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.) reports the following magnitudes for 2008in on Dec. 28.458: V = 14.3, R = 13.2. SN 2006ov also appeared in this galaxy (cf. CBET 756, 757; also discovered by Itagaki).