Discovery of a Probable Nova in M81

ATel #8904; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), H. Kucakova (Astronomical Institute, Charles U., Prague, Czech Republic)
on 4 Apr 2016; 17:55 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (ashafter@mail.sdsu.edu)

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We report the discovery of a probable nova in M81 on a co-added 1350-s unfiltered CCD frame taken on 2016 Apr. 2.876 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov.

The new object designated PNV J09560598+6900401 is located at R.A. = 9h56m05s.98, Decl. = +69o00'40".1 (equinox 2000.0), which is 176.0" east and 195.0" south of the center of M81. The object was confirmed on a co-added 4410-s unfiltered CCD frame taken on Apr. 3.974 UT with the same instrumentation (see link to the confirmation image below).

The following unfiltered magnitudes were obtained using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov (R-band magnitudes used from comparison stars):

2016 Mar. 19.947 UT, [22.2; Apr. 2.876, 20.1 ± 0.3; 3.974, 20.1 ± 0.25.

We thank M. Wolf for sharing his observing time.

Confirmation image