Nova in Perseus

Forums Variable Stars Nova in Perseus

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  • #574798
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    Seiji Ueda (Hokkaido, Japan) reports the discovery of a transient object in Perseus at mag 10.6 on Nov 25.807 (TCP J04291884+4354232). It appears to have a large outburst amplitude of 9.2 mag and might be a nova. UPDATE Nov 25 at 14.43: now confirmed as classical nova!!

    There was an independent discovery by Stanislav Korotkij, Kirill Sokolovskij, and Olga Smolyankina, also at 10.6 on Nov 25.8438 (they refer to it as TCP J04291888+4354233)

    20201123 <136c (Seiji Ueda)
    20201123.57 <172g (ASAS-SN survey (Shappee+ 2014; Kochanek+ 2017))
    20201125.37 171g (ASAS-SN survey (Shappee+ 2014; Kochanek+ 2017))
    20201125.807 10.6c (Seiji Ueda; Canon EOS 6D digital camera + f/3.2 200-mm lens)
    20201125.8438 10.6 (Stanislav Korotkij, Kirill Sokolovskij, and Ol’ga Smol’yankina; F=135mm f/2.0 telephoto lens and ST8300M unfiltered CCD)
    20201125.913 10.2CV (Jeremy Shears, Cheshire; 28 cm SCT + Starlight Xpress H9 CCD)
    20201125.938 10.4v (Gary Poyner, Birmingham; 22 cm refl)
    20201126.115 10.22V (Katsumi Yoshimoto; 0.25-m f/3.4 reflector + CCD; remotely Mayhill, New Mexico)

    The position of the object (noted by Seiji Ueda ) is RA 04 29 18.84 Dec +43 54 23.2 (J2000.0)

    Follow up photometry and spectroscopy is urgently required.

    Jeremy Shears,

    Director, VSS

    #583391
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    Charts and sequences of the transient are now available from the AAVSO website.

    #583392
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    Posted image on my Members Page here.

    #583393
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=14224

    The confirming spectrum was taken with an ALPY600 and 10 inch telescope

    (Here it was clear earlier last night but the arrival of the alert in my in box coincided with that of the clouds)

    Robin

    #583394
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    Thanks for alerting about the ATel, Robin – pleased to see it’s now officially a classical nova. 

    #583395
    Nick James
    Participant

    My image from just now (Nov 26.76) is on my members page here. It is just saturating in a 10s exposure but the unfiltered magnitude looks to be around 9.3.

    #583396
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    You need a smaller telescope, Nick! I was using 5 sec exposures on the C11.

    Good target for visual observers even with relatively small instruments.

    Super to have another northerly nova.

    #583397
    Mike Harlow
    Participant

    Poor conditions last night with thickening fog and a bright Moon but managed to get an image and (very) low resolution spectrum.  Shows the main features of a nova in its early stages…bright continuum with hydrogen emission lines.  Results on my members page.

    Regarding photometry…you could try a small aperture mask on you main telescope to cut the brightness.  I sometimes use a 4 inch or even 2 inch on my 12inch scope for spectroscopy of bright stars for example.

    Mike.

    #583399
    Gary Poyner
    Participant

    One might even try looking at it 🙂   Mag 9.5 last night (Nov 26th) and looks to be brightening further, so binocular territory once the Moon is out of the way.

    Gary

    #583400
    David Boyd
    Participant

    This is the first of two spectra I was able to record last night, 26th Nov. Thick fog eventually ended observations. The H Balmer and He I emission lines have prominent P Cygni dips on their blue edges caused by absorption in the material expanding towards us from the nova explosion.

    David

    #583402
    Mike Harlow
    Participant

    I guess most of you know this but spectra are now starting to be posted on the ARAS web page for this nova.  Well worth checking regularly as the nova develops.

    Mike.

    #583404
    Nick James
    Participant

    Gary. I assume you’re having to wear sunglasses when observing it?

    #583405
    Lars Lindhard
    Participant

    The nova is brightening, my estimate is mag 8.8 tonight 

    #583406
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    yes indeed. I had it at mag 8.9 at 18.30 this evening.

    #583407
    David Swan
    Participant

    Whoa, that’s bright. Unfortunately it is (still) really cloudy here.

    #583411
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    An R~5500 LHIRES spectrum of Halpha/He I 6678 last night. 

    Lots of evolution over a day in spectra in BAA database

    The interstellar line at 6613 is strong too. (I did a bit of Googling on that last night and it seems although it is thought to be molecular in origin, the species does not seem to be known. Does anyone know more about this )

    #583417
    Tim Haymes
    Participant

    A google search and a NASA paper “Taking apart the light”  lists 661 nm as caused by Nitrogen.  I dont know if this is a lab spectrum or “interstellar”.  Will they be the same – or not i ask myself ? (Just a thought)

    #583418
    Jeremy Shears
    Participant

    The nova now has an official variable star designation: V1112 Persei

    #583419
    Gary Poyner
    Participant

    Nearly 🙂   Although with all this cloud, I’m just hoping I get to see it when at it’s brightest!

    The AAVSO doesn’t yet recognise the new designation (V1112 Per), although I suspect it will very soon.  There are some bright comparison stars on the 3 degree (180′) AAVSO chart that observers will need to use.

    Gary

    #583421
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    When I first saw it I expected it to be atomic in origin because it looks so narrow (Think NaD or K 7699 interstellar lines) but I found no matches. Apparently it is probably (I should say possibly, nothing seems very clear from the literature I have found) formed by a high molecular weight PAH molecule but exactly which one is not clear. It is fascinating that something  that is seen in so many spectra and has been known about for many decades is still a mystery

    Cheers

    Robin

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