Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31
ATel #16907; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), A. W. Shafter (SDSU), H. Kucakova (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic)
on 14 Nov 2024; 18:56 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report the discovery of a probable nova found during our survey of the central region of M31. The object was discovered on a co-added 900-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2024 Nov. 14.103 UT with the 40-in reflector at SDSU's Mount Laguna Observatory. The object is well visible also on a prediscovery co-added CCD frame taken on 2024 Nov. 14.014 UT with the Danish 1.54-m telescope at La Silla.
The object designated PNV J00425055+4112297 = M31N 2024-11b is located at R.A. = 0h42m50s.55, Decl. = +41o12'29".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 70.2" east and 218.8" south of the center of M31 (see link to discovery image below). We note that the position (especially in Right Ascension) has larger uncertainty than normally due to proximity of a bright star.
The following R-band magnitudes were obtained using the 40-in reflector at SDSU's Mount Laguna Observatory (MLO) and the Danish 1.54-m telescope at La Silla (DK154):
Date [UT] | Mag | Err | Filter | Telescope
2024-11-13.241 | >18.2 | | R | MLO
2024-11-14.014 | 16.8 | 0.2 | R | DK154
2024-11-14.103 | 17.1 | 0.2 | R | MLO
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. This work is based (in part) on data collected with the Danish 1.54-m telescope at the ESO La Silla Observatory.
Discovery image
