Discovery of a Very Bright Nova in M81
ATel #4794; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), J. Vrastil (Astronomical Institute, Charles U., Prague, Czech Republic)
on 7 Feb 2013; 07:39 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report the discovery of a very bright nova in M81 on a co-added 810-s unfiltered
CCD frame taken on 2013 Feb. 6.990 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.
The new object designated PNV J09555123+6901482 is located at R.A. = 9h55m51s.23,
Decl. = +69o01'48".2 (equinox 2000.0), which is 96.9" east and 126.9" south
of the center of M81 (see link to discovery image below).
The following magnitudes were obtained using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov:
2012 Dec. 9.179 UT, [22.5 (unfiltered, R-band magnitudes used from comparison
stars); 2013 Feb. 6.990, 18.2 +/- 0.1 (unfiltered, R-band magnitudes used from
comparison stars); 7.002, R = 18.0 +/- 0.1; 7.016, V = 18.4 +/- 0.1;
7.032, B = 18.8 +/- 0.1.
The object has absolute mag MR = -9.8 (using distance modulus μ = 27.8
for M81), which is comparable with maximum magnitude MR = -10.2 of
M81N 2007-04b, the most luminous observed nova in M81 (Hornoch et al. 2008,
A&A 492, 301).
Spectroscopic follow-up is strongly encouraged.
Discovery Image
