ALERT! Bright (Mag 5!) Nova in Centaurus

Via John Goodrick and Carl Gruber, a  magnitude 5 nova has been discovered  in Centaurus http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J13544700-5909080.html
This nova has now been independently confirmed and is currently around magnitude 5.0.  It has been imaged by many amateurs. An example image is here.
Location R.A. = 13 54 47.00, Decl.= -59 09 08.0 (J2000 coordinates)

It is bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye under dark sky conditions but most people will need binoculars to see it clearly. PDF map here. Unfortunately it is best seen in the early morning when the pointers are at their highest.

At magnitude 5 (or so) the nova is readily visible if you know where to look, but is a bit nondescript. It’s best to hunt it with a printout of this binocular location map in your hand (use a torch with red cellophane over the end to not destroy you night vision, wait at least 5 minutes before searching so your eyes accommodate to the dark). However, this description may help you find it in binoculars as well.

This description will work for between 2-4 am, local time. Facing south, the southern cross is seen clearly to the south east (see top map above). Just below the cross, the two brightest stars above the horizon are beta (the top blue-white star, also known as Hadar) and alpha (the bottom orange star, aslo known as Rigel Kentaurus) Centauri.

Above and to the left of beta Centuari by about 3 finger widths is the dim star  HIP 66849. at magnitude 5.37 it is the brightest star aside from the nova that is near beta Centauri. The nova is almost directly between these two and currently just a trace brighter than HIP 66849.

Aim your binoculars at beta Centauri. Through the binoculars you will see two brightish stars off two the left. The one in the middle is the nova (again, consult the maps for guidance, it may need several back and forth for you to be sure you have seen it).