------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2293 2006 Dec 25 20.25UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.theastronomer.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- MESSIER 31 NOVA CANDIDATE (ATEL 973) E. Ovcharov (SU, Sofia), Y. Nikolov (IA, Sofia), Ts. Georgiev (IA, Sofia), A. Valcheva (SU, Sofia), I. Stanev (SU, Sofia), A. Kostov (IA, Sofia), P. Nedialkov (SU, Sofia) report on The Astronomer's Telegram 973 their detection of a possible nova in Messsier 31. The object is located at: RA 00h 42m 43.27s, DEC +41 17' 48.09" (2000), which is 11.8" west and 99.6" north of the centre of Messier 31. Available R-band magnitudes from three 180s CCD images taken with the 2-m telescope at NAO Rozhen, Bulgaria: 2006 December 24.6853, 19.01; 24.7368, 19.00; 24.7632, 18.93. The nearest variables are POINT-AGAPE No.26942 at distance 2.6" and WeCAPP Survey No.15638 at 1.5". Editor: Please add "(ATEL 971)" to the title of the nova announced on TA E-Circular 2292 to distinguish the two objects. CHRISTMAS QUIZ The traditional annual quiz will be issued, all being well, on December 26th. May I take this opportunity to wish all our subscribers a very Happy Christmas and rewarding 2007. Guy M Hurst