Nova in M31

Circular No. 7023

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NOVA IN M31

M. Papenkova, J. Y. King, E. Halderson, T. Shefler, M. Modjaz, W. D. Li, R. R. Treffers, and A. V. Filippenko, University of California at Berkeley, report their discovery of an apparent nova in M31 (NGC 224) during the course of the Lick Observatory Supernova Search with the 0.8-m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT). The nova was found and confirmed on unfiltered CCD images taken on Sept. 30.3 (mag about 16.1) and Oct. 1.3 UT (mag about 16.2). The object is located at R.A. = 0h42m49s.9, Decl. = +41o16'48" (equinox 2000.0; due to a lack of nearby stars, this semiaccurate position was calculated as an offset from the NED position for the nucleus of M31), which is about 63" east and 39" north of the galaxy nucleus. A KAIT image of M31 taken on July 23.5 shows nothing at the position of the nova (limiting mag about 19.0). The nova reported on IAUC 7015 is also present on Sept. 30.3 and Oct. 1.3 KAIT frames at unfiltered mag about 18.5.

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