Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31, M31N 2026-06a
ATel #17826; K. Hornoch, H. Kucakova (Ondrejov), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 2 Jun 2026; 02:24 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 600-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2026 Jun. 2.029 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.
The object was designated as M31N 2026-06a = PNV J00424164+4115162 and is located at R.A. = 0h42m41s.64, Decl. = +41o15'16".2 (equinox 2000.0), which is 30.3" west and 52.3" 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 (D65):
Date [UT] | Mag | Err | Filter | Telescope
2026-05-24.069 | >19.2 | | R | D65
2026-06-02.029 | 17.4 | 0.15 | R | D65
2026-06-02.030 | 17.5 | 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
