Absolute light curve of AT 2025abao in the r band, compared with those of AT 2019zhd, V838 Mon (V-band), V1309 Sco (I-band), AT 2018bwo, AT 2020hat, and AT 2021afy. The light curve of V1309 Sco is scaled upwards by 2.5 magnitudes to match the peak brightness and to see the pre-outburst slow rise of both V1309 Sco and AT 2025abao. The error bar on the distance modulus of V1309 Sco (0.724 mag) is not shown.