Discovery of Optical Transient TSS J004150.4+404222 in M31
ATel #701; R. Quimby, F. Castro, M. Sellers, P. Hoeflich, E. L. Robinson, J. C. Wheeler (University of Texas), and A. Shafter (SDSU)
on 20 Jan 2006; 18:22 UT
Credential Certification: Robert Quimby (quimby@astro.as.utexas.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Cataclysmic Variable, Nova, Transient, Variables
We report the discovery of an optical transient near M31 using
unfiltered CCD images taken on 2006 Jan 5.08 UT (about 17.2 mag) and
Jan 9.08 (about 16.9 mag) using the 0.45m ROTSE-IIIb telescope at the
McDonald Observatory. The object is located at RA = 00h41m50.42s DEC =
+40o42'22.5" (J2000), which is 10' 7.7" west and 33' 46.0" south of
the core of M31. TSS J004150.4+404222 was not detected in ROTSE-IIIb
data from 2005 Dec 31.08 UT (limiting mag about 17.8). The transient
increased in brightness irregularly for 10 days, reaching about 15.9
mag on Jan 14.08, and then faded to about 17.0 mag on Jan 19.09. The
light curve suggests the object may be a nova or a bright, unusual
variable star such as a Luminous Blue Variable.
Finding Chart for TSS J004150.4+404222
