Discovery of a Probable Nova in M81
ATel #14949; K. Hornoch, H. Kucakova (Ondrejov), P. Zasche (Charles University), S. C. Williams (Turku), G. Sala, J. Jose (UPC-IEEC), B. Stecklum (TLS), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), A. Kaur (PSU), D. H. Hartmann (Clemson), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 2 Oct 2021; 17:45 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
The M81 nova monitoring collaboration reports the discovery of a probable nova in M81 on a co-added 720-s unfiltered CCD frame taken on 2021 Oct. 1.164 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.
The object designated PNV J09554017+6902478 is located at R.A. = 9h55m40s.17, Decl. = +69o02'47".8 (equinox 2000.0), which is 37.5" east and 67.3" south of the center of M81 (see link to discovery image below).
Here we list the observing dates and corresponding photometry:
Date [UT] | Mag | Err | Filter | Telescope>
2021-07-23.867 | <20.8 | | C | OND
2021-10-01.164 | 19.5 | 0.2 | C | OND
2021-10-02.097 | 20.0 | 0.25 | C | OND
As with all extragalactic novae, follow-up spectroscopic and photometric observations to determine the nova's spectroscopic class and rate of decline (speed class) are encouraged.
The OND 0.65-m is a reflecting telescope at the Ondrejov observatory operated jointly by the Astronomical Institute of ASCR and the Astronomical Institute of the Charles University of Prague, Czech Republic. It uses a Moravian Instruments G2-3200 MkII CCD camera (with a Kodak KAF-3200ME sensor and standard BVRI photometric filters) mounted at the prime focus. The unfiltered OND photometry was calibrated against R-band comparison stars from
Perelmuter & Racine (1995).
Discovery image