Independent Discovery of a Probable Nova in M31, AT 2026yvz

ATel #17965; K. Hornoch, K. Honkova, H. Kucakova (Ondrejov), V. Dienstbier (Charles University), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 14 Aug 2026; 19:07 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@sdsu.edu)

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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 CMOS frame taken on 2026 Aug. 13.951 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov. Subsequently, we found a prediscovery detection of the new object on a poorly focused co-added 900-s R-band CMOS frame taken on 2026 Aug. 12.961 UT with the same instrumentation.

The object was independently discovered on Aug. 13.915 UT by R. Fidrich and T. Tordai.

The object has been designated by us as M31N 2026-08b and is located at R.A. = 0h43m17s.48, Decl. = +41o26'51".0 (equinox 2000.0), which is 373.3" east and 642.5" 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 
 
2026-08-12.104 | >20.5  |      | R       | D65 
2026-08-12.961 |  19.6  | 0.25 | R       | D65 
2026-08-13.951 |  18.1  | 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