Discovery of an Apparent Nova in M31
K. Hornoch, P. Fatka (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic)
We report the discovery of an apparent nova in M31 on a co-added 420-s R-band CCD frame taken on 2020 Apr. 26.102 UT with the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov. The object is also visible on a prediscovery image taken on 2020 Apr. 22.112 UT with the same instrumentation.

The object designated PNV J00420852+4106147 is located at R.A. = 0h42m08s.52, Decl. = +41o06'14".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 404.2" west and 593.8" south 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:

2020 Apr. 20.105 UT, [18.7; 22.112, 18.0 ± 0.25; 26.102, 16.8 ± 0.1.
optical,nova,transient