Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31
ATel #17392; K. Hornoch (Ondrejov), M. Wolf (Charles University), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 17 Sep 2025; 05:06 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 1440-s R-band CCD frame
taken on 2025 Sep. 16.863 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov. The new object
is faintly visible also on a prediscovery co-added 450-s R-band CCD frame taken
on 2025 Sep. 15.818 UT with the same instrumentation.
The object designated PNV J00424264+4111245 is located at R.A. = 0h42m42s.64,
Decl. = +41o11'24".5 (equinox 2000.0), which is 19.0" west and 284.0" south
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
2025-09-13.111 | >19.1 | | R | D65
2025-09-15.818 | 19.7 | 0.25 | R | D65
2025-09-16.863 | 18.6 | 0.1 | 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
