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Confirmation of Swift J004249.9+411457 in the Optical

ATel #5677; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), H. Kucakova and J. Vrastil (Astronomical Institute, Charles U., Prague, Czech Republic)
on 20 Dec 2013; 22:02 UT
Credential Certification: Martin Henze (mhenze@mpe.mpg.de)

Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient, Variables

Referred to by ATel #: 5744, 5745

Information about the discovery by R. Sturm et al. of a UV-transient in M31 designated Swift J004249.9+411457 was published in ATel #5669. The source was detected in UV first on 2013 Dec. 1.02 UT.

We confirm the presence of the object in the optical, including pre-discovery detections, on R-band images taken using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov (O) and the Danish 1.54-m telescope at La Silla (LS). Our astrometry of the object gave R.A. = 0h42m49s.87, Decl. = +41o14'57".3 (equinox 2000.0), which is 62.5" east and 71.2" south of the center of M31. The following R-band magnitudes were obtained:

2013 Oct. 26.727 UT, [20.6 (O); Nov. 12.077, [21.3 (LS); 12.695, 19.4 ± 0.35 (O); 25.062, 19.6 ± 0.35 (O); 27.693, 19.2 ± 0.35 (O); 29.014, 19.4 ± 0.15 (LS); Dec. 1.032, 19.3 ± 0.15 (LS); 2.676, 19.0 ± 0.25 (O); 3.691, 19.1 ± 0.25 (O); 10.022, 18.64 ± 0.10 (LS); 10.025, 18.74 ± 0.08 (LS); 16.787, 18.1 ± 0.1 (O); 17.747, 18.1 ± 0.1 (O); 17.828, 18.2 ± 0.1 (O); 17.924, 18.1 ± 0.1 (O); 18.744, 18.1 ± 0.1 (O).

Although the very slow rise to maximum is not typical for a classical nova, at least one spectroscopically confirmed nova in M31 with similar behaviour had already been observed in the past - M31N 2010-10b (CBET #2487, ATel #3039). In order to confirm the nova nature of the object unequivocally, spectroscopic observations are encouraged. A finding chart of the object is available

here.

Based (in part) on data collected with the Danish 1.54-m telescope at the ESO La Silla Observatory.