João da Nova, Spanish Juan de Nova, (born 15th century, Galicia, Spain—died 1509, Cochin, India), Spanish navigator who in the service of Portugal discovered the islands of Ascension and St. Helena, both off the southwestern coast of Africa.
Commanding a fleet of four ships, Nova left Portugal on a voyage to India in 1501. En route he discovered Ascension Island. In India he established a trading post at Cannanore. During his return voyage to Portugal, Nova discovered St. Helena.