PNV J00414954+4104027 is Likely a Red LPV in M31

ATel #5257; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), O. Vaduvescu (ING, La Palma, Spain), A. Manilla-Robles (ING, La Palma and University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), J. Vrastil (Astronomical Institute, Charles U., Prague, Czech Republic)
on 7 Aug 2013; 17:55 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)

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Information about the discovery of a possible nova in M31 by the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS) designated PNV J00414954+4104027 was posted here.

The object is spatially coincident with spectroscopically unconfirmed nova candidate discovered by Hornoch on 2007 Aug. 14.969 UT and designated M31N 2007-08b (see link to W. Pietsch's catalogue below). We are observing the object in its current bright state using the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) + WFC at La Palma and the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov from end of June 2013. The object slowly brightened from R = 20.1 +/- 0.1 on 2013 June 27.193 UT to R = 18.70 +/- 0.09 on Aug. 5.972 having R = 18.93 +/- 0.05 and H-alpha = 18.1 +/- 0.1 on Aug. 2.138. On Aug. 5.972 we obtained (R-I) = 0.7 +/- 0.15.

The red color of the object is not typical for a classical nova unless it is highly reddened, which is not expected in the line of sight to the object. Also, the relatively weak H-alpha emission and the very slow brightening is atypical for a recurrent nova (if PNV J00414954+4104027 is the same object as M31N 2007-08b, which is very probable). A more likely classification of the object is that it is a red LPV currently around its maximum brightness although the (R-I) value is somewhat smaller than typical for LPVs due to the H-alpha emission falling in the R-band.

This work is based in part on observations made with the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) operated on the island of La Palma by the Isaac Newton Group (ING) in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC).

M31 (apparent) optical nova catalogue