Discovery of Three Probable Novae in M81
ATel #5729; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), Y. Ramanjooloo (ING, La Palma, Spain)
on 7 Jan 2014; 03:27 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report the discovery of three probable novae in the M81 galaxy on co-added 1600-s narrow-band H-alpha CCD images taken with the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) + WFC at La Palma under ~1.1" and ~1.5" seeing on 2014 Jan. 3.228 and 4.082 UT, respectively. The new objects are well visible on the co-added images (see the finding chart linked below), but are not present on numerous narrow-band H-alpha archival images from the INT down to limiting magnitude as faint as H-alpha = 22.3. We obtained also Sloan r'-band images which helped us to classify the objects. Strong H-alpha emission together with relative faintness in Sloan r'-band supports the classification of the PNV J09553012+6903446 and PNV J09553290+6903158 as novae. Lower, but significant excess H-alpha emission is present in the PNV J09553515+6904002 which, together with high brightness of the object, is consistent with a nova observed near maximum light.
Designations, positions, and offsets of the new objects from the M81 center are summarized in the following table:
TOCP designation CBAT designation R.A. (J2000) Dec. (J2000) Offset R.A. Offset Dec.
PNV J09553012+6903446 M81N 2014-01a? 09 55 30.12 +69 03 44.6 16.4" W 10.5" S
PNV J09553290+6903158 M81N 2014-01b? 09 55 32.90 +69 03 15.8 1.5" W 39.3" S
PNV J09553515+6904002 M81N 2014-01c? 09 55 35.15 +69 04 00.2 10.6" E 5.1" N
The photometry obtained with the INT + WFC is summarized here:
2014 01 03.228 2014 01 03.232 2014 01 04.082
Object H-alpha mag Sloan r' mag H-alpha mag
PNV J09553012+6903446 19.7 +/- 0.1 20.3 +/- 0.15 19.7 +/- 0.1
PNV J09553290+6903158 20.0 +/- 0.15 > 22.5 19.9 +/- 0.15
PNV J09553515+6904002 18.18 +/- 0.10 18.68 +/- 0.10 17.94 +/- 0.10
This work is based on observations made with the Isaac Newton Telescope operated on the island of La Palma by the ING in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos.
Finding chart
