The search for novae during the 2002-2003 season yielded 12 novae in M81 using WFCAM and the H-alpha filter. We are in the process of upgrading the WFCAM CCD to cover a full 10 x 10 arcminute field of view. Observations for the 2003-2004 season will begin in November and go until June of 2004. We will add V-band coverage of the novae and target other members of the M81 group.
-
M81:
- 3 novae in H-alpha (2002)
- 12 novae in H-alpha (2002-2003)
- Paper in Feb 2004 AJ: (``The H-alpha Light Curves and Spatial Distribution of Novae in M81'')
- M31: First images (Oct 2002) show we get to M(Ha) = -7.5 within 5 arcsec of the nucleus