Discovery of an Apparent Nova in M31

ATel #9051; K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), J. Vrastil (Astronomical Institute, Charles U., Prague, Czech Republic)
on 14 May 2016; 10:00 UT
Credential Certification: Martin Henze (henze@ice.cat)

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We report the discovery of an apparent nova in M31 on a co-added 1710-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2016 May 11.066 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov. The new object is also visible on a prediscovery image taken on May 10.081 UT with the same instrumentation under poor conditions.

The object designated PNV J00423947+4121385 is located at R.A. = 0h42m39s.47, Decl. = +41o21'38".5 (equinox 2000.0), which is 54.7" west and 330.0" north of the center of M31 (see link to discovery image below).

The following R-band magnitudes were obtained using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov:

2016 May 9.086 UT, [19.7; 10.081, 18.5 ± 0.3 (prediscovery); 11.066, 17.3 ± 0.1; 11.082, 17.3 ± 0.15; 12.046, 17.5 ± 0.15; 12.072, 17.5 ± 0.1.

We thank P. Kusnirak for getting images on May 9.086 UT.

Discovery image