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An optical transient found with the NMW-TexasTech survey: http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J19450648+1822422.html
2026 08 25.4436. Object bright. V mag = 7.42 using 135-mm f/3.5 lens + V filter CMOS. observed by K. Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan (P87).
RA, Dec: 19 45 06.48 +18 22 42.2
Spectrum by Isogai indicates likely nova: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=18008
Tampo-san (SAAO) writes:
“PNV J19450648+1822422 was originally discovered by the NMW-TexasTech
survey. Its position coincides with a known eclipsing binary candidate
in Gaia, with an orbital period of 9.9011 d. Thus, time-resolved
observations may reveal eclipses during its decline as the photosphere
recedes.”VSX details of precursor (g~20): https://vsx.aavso.org/index.php?view=detail.top&oid=10762522
There is now a chart and sequence available from AAVSO VSP, though I had some difficulty downloading just now, so appending here (5 deg field).
The brightest star, left of centre) is delta Sagittae.
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This is a Sloan R image of the field.
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I’m not sure of the correct method or location to post my observation, but I would like to confirm that I could see it fairly easily with my hand held 15×70 binoculars at approx 22:30 on 25 August 2026, despite the nearby bright moon. I could not locate it with my 8×42 binoculars. I’m not an experience visual observer, but by reference to Stellarium and nearby stars it would seem to me to be in the region of mag 7.5 to 7.8. I have attached a Stellarium screenshot with stars of similar brightness circled. The crosshair marks the location where I observed the transient nova.
Best regards,
GeofAttachments:
I did wonder whether the transient would show up in my 6mm meteor camera data. This image is a 10 minute stack of frames at 0305 UTC this morning as the field set in the west. (Aug 25.125). There is no sign of the object. The discovery report at
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J19450648+1822422.html
reports a V magnitude of 8.9 at this time. These cameras are very red sensitive but this object is not strongly red so that doesn’t help.
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The nova is very easy to see visually.
Here is an image taken with my Seestar. The nova is in center.
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I think I captured it with the Dwarf3, I would estimate it close to 77 in the AAVSO chart. (This is my first ever post here).
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A spectrum taken 20260825.852 showing clear P Cygni profiles at H alpha and H beta. The velocity in H alpha is ~1500km/s confirming its status as a Nova
https://britastro.org/specdb/data_graph.php?obs_id=21386Cheers
RobinChecked my email just after packing up for the night…so I got everything out again!!!
Using the 30cm F/3.6 astrograph a wide field shot of the nova first followed by a quick look spectrum with the 20cm, 9 degree objective prism taken at 20260825.916. Both fields ~112 x 75 arc minutes with north up but slightly offset from each other. The spectrum just about shows the P-Cygni profile, which is easiest to see in H beta, but not as clearly as Robin’s result. All features relatively weak at this stage as noted in the follow up ATel#18009.Please put the date of posting in the header. If this pops up again in a few years time if will be very misleading and disappointing when people find out it went off in 2026 and is not a new object in 2028, 2029 or whenever…
Mike.I have a question – how long before the distance and therefore the true age of this nova are determined? Can this be followed in a data release from professional astronomers?
Kevin,
Gaia measured the parallax of the precursor of the nova. The median geometric distance is 6255.57227 parsecs (ca 20,400 ly)
Jeremy
I’ve just created an object entry for ‘Nova Sge 2026’ in the image gallery, and tagged last night’s images.
It can’t happen very often that there are two active novae at the same time, called ‘Nova Sge 2026’ and ‘Nova Sgr 2026’!
I haven’t created an entry for ‘Nova Sgr 2026’ yet as I don’t think any images have been uploaded, but I will add it if any observations appear.
I’ve just created an object entry for ‘Nova Sge 2026’ in the image gallery, and tagged last night’s images.
It can’t happen very often that there are two active novae at the same time, called ‘Nova Sge 2026’ and ‘Nova Sgr 2026’!
I haven’t created an entry for ‘Nova Sgr 2026’ yet as I don’t think any images have been uploaded, but I will add it if any observations appear.
Great idea, Dominic – thanks.
Yes, much going on in the field of novae right now, what with these two plus N Aql 2026 and N Tau 2026.
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