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An ApJL preprint on ArXiv today reveals the the discovery of a Nova Super-Remnant (NSR) surrounding T CrB. This is only the third known NSR. It at least 200,000 years old. Turning to the forthcoming eruption, the authors predict there will be no fluorescent light echoes seen after T CrB erupts, but there might be dust-scattered, continuum light echoes during the year following the nova eruption.
On the lighting front, there might be an opportunity to play back Dundee City Council’s own nett zero plan: https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/net_zero_transition_plan_2024-2030.pdf
This states that 25% of its emissions are from the electricity used in its buildings sector. This is the second largest contributor (after heating of buildings). As a consequence, their action plan item OE2 is about addressing lighting in buildings (though not OF buildings; I would hope this would be included).
An A&A preprint on ArXiv today might me be interest: Two epoch spectra-imagery of PV Cep outflow system.
The authors describe features in the associated HH object and their kinematics.
They report a newly-formed HH knot, which they presume formed during the large maximum of PV Cep star in 1976-1977.
ATel 16912 on “Continued monitoring of activity in T CrB: Rapid intensification of He II and spectroscopic gyrations” discusses recent spectroscopic changes in data from the ARAS group: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16912
The overall significance is not clear, though there does appear to be a change in accretion environment and rate around October.
This is definitely feasible. Arne Henden is routinely monitoring T CrB in daylight. He is using a Newtonian stopped down to 50mm and is able to image theta CrB mag ~4.1. The other day there was a false alarm and he was able to show that there was nothing brighter than mag ~4.5.
The rise time is 1-5 hours.
Latest data shows that the rebrightening episode, which lasted ~9 days, is now over with the star having faded to 18th mag. Additional rebrightenings are possible.
Many people enjoyed the nova V1674 Her that erupted in 2021 (was it really that long ago?). A pre-print of an ApJ paper has just appeared which probes the early part of the eruption in unprecedented detail, shedding now light on the events at the white dwarf that triggered the eruption.
Thanks Ian. I note that the star dipped (to mag 16) and re-brightened ~4 days ago. Classic UGWZ. I wonder if there will be further such episodes.
Tonny Vanmunster reports the emergence of 0.16 mag amplitude humps 13 days into the outburst of this putative UGWZ dwarf nova. The period is ~0.067 days.
Spectroscopy from the GOTO team leads them to suggest this is a WZ Sge type dwarf nova: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16858
If so, one might expect superhumps to develop.
LHAASO also reports gamma ray flaring on Oct 5: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16850
Looking at the AAVSO light curve, it was ca 0.5 mag brighter in BVRI (13.2V) on Oct 6 compared to Oct 3.
Gamma ray observations from Fermi LAT show enhanced gamma ray emissions on Oct 5
https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16849Gamma ray light curve: https://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/access/lat/msl_lc/source/BL_Lac
Good to see the data coming in.
I also see an ATel from the ARIES team in India: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16847Let’s hope it gets a proper name soon. Good publicity for the GOTO project(Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer)
It’s worth pointing out that the lead author on the ATel is Dr Thomas Killestein: https://tkilleste.in/
Thomas was recipient of the Sir Patrick Moore Prize 2016. I well remember presenting it to him at the 2017 January meeting: https://britastro.org/2017/young-astronomer-awarded-the-2016-sir-patrick-moore-prize
There is a further confirmation here: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=16847
There is an interesting paper, submitted to A&A, on last May’s solar storm involving multiple interacting coronal mass ejections.
“Unveiling Key Factors in the Solar Eruptions Leading to the Solar Superstorm in 2024 May“
I’ve been asked about availability of the book. It’s published by MIT Press: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049382/attention-is-discovery/
Available through Amazon.
Great stuff, Richard.
The canonical theory is that the secondary transfers mass to the white dwarf and at a certain point sufficient material builds up on the surface of the WD to trigger a thermonuclear runway. The problem, of course, is we don’t know how far away from that point we are as we cannot measure it.
It will all become clear with hindsight and this time round we will have the most detailed understanding of the events immediately before and after the eruption to post rationalise it all. At least we now have an additional datapoint from 1946 thanks to Michael Woodman.
I’m meeting Brad Schaefer in November and it will be interesting to hear his latest thinking.
