Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31
ATel #15599; K. Hornoch, H. Kucakova (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic)
on 8 Sep 2022; 20:29 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 15608
We report the discovery of a probable nova in M31 caught in very early stage of eruption on a co-added 1800-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2022 Sep. 7.950 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.
The object designated M31N 2022-09a is located at R.A. = 0h42m52s.38, Decl. = +41o16'13".2 (equinox 2000.0), which is 90.8" east and 4.7" north of the center of M31 (see link to discovery image below).
The following R-band magnitudes were obtained using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov:
2022 Aug. 7.876 UT, [20.0; 7.926, 19.4 ± 0.3 (prediscovery); 7.950, 18.2 ± 0.2; 7.972, 18.0 ± 0.15; 7.993, 17.5 ± 0.1.
As with all extragalactic novae, follow-up spectroscopic and photometric observations to confirm the nova's nature and determine its spectroscopic class and rate of decline (speed class) are encouraged.
Discovery image
