Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a: discovery of the 2017 eruption
ATel #11116; D. Boyd (BAA), K. Hornoch (Ondrejov), M. Henze (SDSU), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), A. W. Shafter (SDSU), S. Kafka (AAVSO), M. Kato (Keio University), for a larger collaboration
on 31 Dec 2017; 20:06 UT
Credential Certification: Martin Henze (henze@ice.cat)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 11117, 11118, 11121, 11124, 11125, 11126, 11130, 11133, 11134, 11144, 11149, 11214, 12177, 12179, 12207, 13269, 13273, 13279, 13290, 14130, 15034
We report the discovery of the predicted 2017 eruption of the remarkable recurrent M31 nova M31N 2008-12a (see ATels #5607,#6527,#7964,#9848 for earlier detections as well as Darnley et al. 2014, 2015, 2016 and Henze et al. 2014, 2015a, 2015b for comprehensive multi-wavelength studies of previous eruptions).
The nova was clearly detected on 2017-12-31.77 UT using 26 x 30s images obtained with a 0.35-m Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, working at f/6.3 with a clear filter and a Starlight Xpress SXVR-H9 CCD camera, at the West Challow Observatory UK. The discovery magnitude is 18.41±0.04 mag in the CV band (clear visual). The discovery was confirmed at the Ondrejov observatory. We will continue to monitor the nova light curve and strongly encourage additional follow-up observations.
