2011CBET.2631....1N

Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Japan; and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki, Japan, report the discovery of a possible nova (mag 18.4) in M31 on seven 40-s unfiltered CCD frames (limiting magnitude 19.3) taken around Jan. 7.432 UT using a Meade 200R 0.40-m f/9.8 reflector (+ SBIG STL1001E camera). The new object is located at R.A. = 0:42:42.60 ± 0s.01, Decl. = +41:19:14.4 ± 0".1 (equinox 2000.0), which is 20" west and 186" north of the center of the galaxy M31. Additional magnitudes for M31N 2011-01a from Nishiyama and Kabashima: 1986 Nov. 27, [18.7 (Digitized Sky Survey; red plate); 1993 Oct. 21, [17.9 (DSS; infrared plate); 2011 Jan. 2.454, [19.2; 4.436, [19.0; 8.545, 17.4. They add that the nearest star in Massey's M31 catalogue (http://www.lowell.edu/users/massey/lgsurvey.html) has position end figures 42s.61, 13".7 (magnitudes V = 21.3, B = 22.3, R = 20.4).