A multi-epoch H \alpha survey of the early-type spiral galaxy M94 ( NGC 4736 ) has been completed as part of a program to establish the galaxy ’ s nova rate .
A total of four nova candidates were discovered in seven epochs of observation during the period from 2005 to 2007 .
After making corrections for temporal coverage and spatial completeness , a global nova rate of 5.0 ^ { +1.8 } _ { -1.4 } yr ^ { -1 } was determined .
This rate corresponds to a specific-luminosity nova rate of 1.4 \pm 0.5 novae per year per 10 ^ { 10 } L _ { \odot,K } when the K luminosity is determined from the B - K color , or 1.5 \pm 0.4 novae per year per 10 ^ { 10 } L _ { \odot,K } when the K luminosity is derived from the Two Micron All Sky Survey .
These values are slightly lower than that of other galaxies with measured nova rates , which typically lie in the range of 2 - 3 novae per year per 10 ^ { 10 } L _ { \odot } in the K band .