Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31 or M110

ATel #14867; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic)
on 22 Aug 2021; 17:41 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)

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We report the discovery of a probable nova in the field of M110 on a co-added 900-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2021 Aug. 21.919 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.

The object designated PNV J00394278+4135145 is located at R.A. = 0h39m42s.78, Decl. = +41o35'14".5 (equinox 2000.0), which is 2041.8" west and 1146.0" north of the center of M31, and 440.3" west and 353.0" south of the center of M110 (see link to discovery image below). Based on its spatial position it is not possible to firmly establish which of the two galaxies the nova is associated with. A spectroscopic observation of the nova candidate is encouraged due to its possible connection with M110 galaxy which produced only a very few observed novae up to the present day.

The following R-band magnitudes were obtained using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov:

2021 Jun. 9.057 UT, [19.3; Aug. 21.919, 16.4 ± 0.1.

We thank P. Cagas for providing a deep, wide-field CCD image showing M31 and M110 together.

Discovery image