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