Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31
ATel #17158; K. Hornoch (Ondrejov), H. Kucakova (Charles University), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 21 Apr 2025; 19:31 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 1080-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2025 Apr. 20.107 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov under cloudy conditions. The new object was confirmed on a co-added 960-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2025 Apr. 21.097 UT with the same instrumentation.
The object designated PNV J00430092+4119021 is located at R.A. = 0h43m00s.92, Decl. = +41o19'02".1 (equinox 2000.0), which is 187.0" east and 173.6" 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 (D65):
Date [UT] | Mag | Err | Filter | Telescope
2025-04-16.111 | >19.3 | | R | D65
2025-04-20.107 | 18.1 | 0.15 | R | D65
2025-04-21.097 | 18.0 | 0.15 | R | D65
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
