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Discovery of a Probable Nova in M81

ATel #16603; K. Hornoch (Ondrejov), H. Kucakova (Charles University), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 26 Apr 2024; 19:22 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)

Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient

Referred to by ATel #: 16604

We report the discovery of a probable nova in M81 on a co-added 9720-s unfiltered CCD frame taken on 2024 Apr. 25.970 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.

The object designated PNV J09553353+6903157 is located at R.A. = 9h55m33s.53, Decl. = +69o03'15".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 1.9" east and 39.4" 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 
 
2024-04-12.925 | <20.2  |      | C       | OND  
2024-04-25.970 |  18.4  | 0.1  | 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