Program: GN-2010A-DD-1

Two reasons motivate us to build a complete inventory of transients in the local universe (d < 200 Mpc). First, there exists a glaring six-magnitude luminosity gap between the brightest novae and faintest supernovae, especially on short timescales. Theorists predict a variety of mechanisms to produce transients in the gap and observers have the best chance of finding them in the local universe. Second, the budding fields of gravitational waves, neutrinos, ultra high energy cosmic rays and TeV astronomy are also limited to ~100 Mpc horizon either due to instrumental sensitivity or physical effects. The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) just discovered PTF10bhp --- an interesting transient candidate in the gap (MR = -16.2) that is decaying rapidly at the rate of 1 mag/day. The most crucial information needed after discovery is the spectrum. A spectrum can help unambiguously identify a transient by revealing its distance, physical state and composition. We have an approved 2010A ToO program on Gemini-South to accomplish this science goal. Unfortunately, PTF10bhp has a declination of +73 deg and not visible from Gemini-S. Therefore, here we request DDT time on Gemini-N.