Possible Nova in Centaurus

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page about a possible Nova in Cen (TOCP Designation: PNV J13410800-5815470) we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through the 2.0-m  f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD of "Faulkes Telescope South" (MPC Code - E10).

On our images taken on March 24.5, 2012 we can confirm  the presence of an optical counterpart with filtered  R-Bessel CCD magnitude 9.3 (USNO-B1.0 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 13 41 09.36, Decl.= -58 15 16.9

(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1.0 catalogue reference stars).

Our confirmation image (click on it for a bigger version):

While below you can see an animation showing a comparison between our confirmation image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1994). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

UPDATE - MARCH 29, 2012

According to Cbet 3073 issued on March 29, F. M. Walter, Stony Brook University, obtained a low-resolution (0.31-nm) red (560-690 nm) spectrogram of PNV J13410800-5815470 on Mar. 27.3 UT using the SMARTS 1.5-m telescope (+ RC spectrograph) at Cerro Tololo. The variable is a classical "Fe II"-type nova. This nova, designated NOVA CENTAURI 2012, has been discovered by John Seach, Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia,  on six images (limiting mag 11.0) taken on Mar. 23.386 UT with a digital SLR camera (+ 50-mm f/1.0 lens).

by Ernesto Guido, Alison Tripp, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero