Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a: discovery of the 2019 eruption
ATel #13269; A. Oksanen (Hankasalmi Obs), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), A. W. Shafter (SDSU), S. Kafka (AAVSO), M. Kato (Keio University) and M. Henze (SDSU), on behalf of the 12a Collaboration
on 6 Nov 2019; 18:31 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report the discovery of the predicted 2019 eruption of the remarkable recurrent M31 nova M31N 2008-12a (see ATels #5607, #6527, #7964, #9848, #11116, #12177 for earlier detections as well as Darnley et al. 2014, 2015, 2016 and Henze et al. 2014, 2015a, 2015b, 2018, for comprehensive multi-wavelength studies of previous eruptions).
The nova was clearly detected on 2019 Nov 06 at 17.00 UTC on 25 1-minute exposures obtained at the Hankasalmi Observatory. The discovery magnitude was ~19.4. The nova is continuing to brighten with a latest measurement of m=18.99 +/- 0.05 at 18:00 UT. We will continue to monitor the nova light curve and strongly encourage additional follow-up observations.
