M31 Optical Transient

ATel #518; R. Quimby, P. Hoeflich, J. C. Wheeler, E. L. Robinson (University of Texas), and C. Gerardy (Imperial College)
on 16 Jun 2005; 18:44 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Robert Quimby (quimby@astro.as.utexas.edu)

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We report the discovery of a transient in M31 using unfiltered CCD images taken on June 15.38 UT (about 15.8 mag) and June 16.38 (about 16.6 mag) using the 0.45m ROTSE-IIIb telescope at the McDonald Observatory. The object is located at RA = 00h45m05.28s DEC = +41o33'40.1" and was not detected in ROTSE-IIIb data from June 8.41 UT (limiting mag about 17.7). The transient is consistent with a fast nova (cf. Figure 2 of della Valle 1991, A&A, 252, L9). A finding chart for the transient can be found at: http://grad40.as.utexas.edu/~quimby/tss/nova4.png