Discovery of Three Probable Novae in M81
K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), Y. Ramanjooloo (ING, La Palma, Spain)
We report the discovery of three probable novae in the M81 galaxy on co-added 1600-s narrow-band H-alpha CCD images taken with the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) + WFC at La Palma under ~1.1" and ~1.5" seeing on 2014 Jan. 3.228 and 4.082 UT, respectively. The new objects are well visible on the co-added images (see the finding chart linked below), but are not present on numerous narrow-band H-alpha archival images from the INT down to limiting magnitude as faint as H-alpha = 22.3. We obtained also Sloan r'-band images which helped us to classify the objects. Strong H-alpha emission together with relative faintness in Sloan r'-band supports the classification of the PNV J09553012+6903446 and PNV J09553290+6903158 as novae. Lower, but significant excess H-alpha emission is present in the PNV J09553515+6904002 which, together with high brightness of the object, is consistent with a nova observed near maximum light.

Designations, positions, and offsets of the new objects from the M81 center are summarized in the following table:
optical,nova,transient