Electronic Telegram No. 1659 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html APPARENT NOVA IN M33 S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Koichi Nishiyama (Kurume, Fukuoka-ken) and Fujio Kabashima (Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken) of an apparent nova (mag 17.0) in M33 on nine 40-s unfiltered CCD frames taken around Jan. 7.54 UT using a 0.40-m f/9.8 reflector (limiting magnitude 18.3). Five confirming 60-s exposures on Jan. 8.475 indicate a fading of the new object, designated M33N 2009-01a, to mag 17.8. M33N 2009-01a is located at R.A. = 1h33m40s.42 +/- 0s.03, Decl. = +30o25'42".1 +/- 0".1 (equinox 2000.0; average of astrometry from the two nights), which is 136" west and 835" south of the center of the galaxy M33. Nothing is visible at this position on their past frames taken on Jan. 2.55 (limiting mag 19.5) and 3.53 (limiting mag 19.4) or on the Digitized Sky Survey. A star with magnitude V = B = R = 22 and position end figures 40s.43, 40".2 is listed in the M33 catalogue of Massey et al. (2006, A.J. 131, 2478; information available online at the following website URL: http://www.lowell.edu/users/massey/lgsurvey.html). NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT 2009 January 8 (CBET 1659) Daniel W. E. Green