Pre-maximum spectroscopy and photometry of a probable nova in M31

ATel #6924; E. Ovcharov, A. Kurtenkov, A. Valcheva, P. Nedialkov (University of Sofia)
on 15 Jan 2015; 03:42 UT
Credential Certification: Evgeni Ovcharov (evgeni@phys.uni-sofia.bg)

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We report optical photometry and low-resolution spectroscopy of the M31 nova candidate, discovered on 2015 Jan 13.63235 UT by the MASTER-Kislovodsk auto-detection system (ATel#6911). The photometric observations were carried out on 2015 Jan 13 and 14 using the 50/70 cm Schmidt telescope (B, R) and the 2 m RCC telescope (R, H-alpha) at NAO Rozhen, Bulgaria. The available magnitudes are:

2015 Jan 13.74331 UT R=18.002 +/- 0.030 (5x300s) 50/70 cm Schmidt

2015 Jan 13.76447 UT B=19.503 +/- 0.060 (3x300s) 50/70 cm Schmidt

2015 Jan 14.70972 UT R=16.820 +/- 0.019 (5x60s) 2 m RCC

2015 Jan 14.73819 UT Ha=16.810 +/- 0.028 (3x300s) 2 m RCC

Three 600s spectra were obtained on Jan 14.8 UT with the FoReRo2 focal reducer at the 2 m RCC telescope. An H-alpha emission line was detected. The combined spectrum, binned at 16A, is available at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8qnk9tv06bkys3/20150115_M31N_Halpha.pdf?dl=0

Apparently, the nova has not reached its maximum phase yet. Further observations are strongly encouraged.