Optical Nova Candidate in M31

ATel #3834; E. Ovcharov (SU, Sofia), G. Borisov (IA, Sofia), A. Valcheva (SU, Sofia), A. Kurtenkov (IA, Sofia), A. Kostov (IA, Sofia), Y. Nikolov (IA, Sofia), P. Nedialkov (SU, Sofia)
on 30 Dec 2011; 01:03 UT
Credential Certification: Evgeni Ovcharov (evgeni@phys.uni-sofia.bg)

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We report the discovery of a probable nova located at RA(2000) = 00h42m28.80s, Dec(2000) = +41d10'21.83", which is 175.0" west and 346.7" south of the center of M31. The images are obtained with the 2m RCC telescope (+ Two-Channel Focal Reducer "FoReRo 2") at NAO Rozhen, Bulgaria. The R-magnitudes are:

2011 December 29.67920 UT, R = 18.571 +/- 0.043 (from 3x180sec co-added CCD images)
2011 December 29.68708 UT, R = 18.568 +/- 0.050 (from 3x60sec co-added CCD images)
2011 December 29.69637 UT, R = 18.535 +/- 0.047 (from 3x60sec co-added CCD images)
2011 December 29.81758 UT, R = 18.512 +/- 0.045 (from 3x60sec co-added CCD images)
2011 December 29.92100 UT, R = 18.587 +/- 0.045 (from 3x90sec co-added CCD images)

No minor planet could be found on this position using the MPC/IAU Minor Planet Checker.
The nearest objects are:
- J004228.93+411020.9 with R=21.619 mag (M31 and M33 UBVRI photometry, Massey et al., 2006) at distance of 1.74".
- No.2418 from WeCAPP Survey - M31 variables (Fliri et al., 2006), classified as regular or semi-regular red variable, at distance 4.09".