nova

Alert Notice 362: Nova in Puppis [Nova Pup 2007 = V597 Pup]

November 14, 2007

Event: Nova in Puppis

Discovered By: Alfredo Jose Serra Pereira, Carnaxide, Portugal (IAU Circular No. 8895)

Discovery Date: 2007 November 14.23 UT (JD 2454418.73)

Discovery Magnitude: approximately 7.0 (visual estimate)

Position: R.A. = 8h 16.2m Decl. = -34o 15' (J2000) from Pereira.

RA = 08h 16m 18.01s Decl. = -34o 15' 24.1" (J2000) by J.E. McGaha, Tucson, Arizona, measured with CCD imaging on November 14.243 - 14.256 UT.

Alert Notice 364: Nova Vulpeculae 2007 No. 2 = V459 Vul

December 26, 2007

Event: Nova

Discovered Independently By:
- Hiroshi Kaneda, Sapporo, Japan (reported by S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan)
- Akihiko Tago, Japan (reported by Nakano)

Discovery Magnitude:
- Kaneda: CCD magnitude 8.7, through thin clouds and using a Nikon D40 digital camera (+105-mm f/2.5 lens), 3 frames
- Tago: CCD magnitude 8.3, using a Canon 20D digital camera (+ Pentax 105-mm f/3.2 lens), 2 frames

Alert Notice 374: Nova Cygni 2008 = V2468 Cyg

March 31, 2008: V2468 Cyg (Nova Cyg 2008) was announced on March 8, 2008, in Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Circular No. 8928 (Daniel W. E. Green, editor) and AAVSO Special Notice #98 (E. Waagen). The nova was discovered by Hiroshi Kaneda, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Japan (reported via S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan), at magnitude 8.2 +/- 0.3 on unfiltered CCD images taken March 7.801 UT.

Alert Notice 380: Nova in Ophiuchus

May 27, 2008

Event: Nova in Ophiuchus

Discovered By: independently by several Japanese observers using unfiltered CCDs:
        -- K. Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, and F. Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken
        -- H. Nishimura, Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken
        -- K. Haseda, Toyohashi, Aichi; via H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University

Discovery Date: 2008 May 25 (JD 2454612)

Discovery Magnitude: approximately 10.2 (visual estimate)

Alert Notice 381: Second possible nova in Ophiuchus - Nova Oph 2008 No. 2

June 2, 2008

Event: Second (Possible) Nova in Ophiuchus in 2008 - N OPH 2008 NO. 2

Discovered By: K. Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan, and F. Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan

Discovery Date: May 31.608 and 31.609 UT

Discovery Magnitude: unfiltered CCD magnitude 11.3 (two 30-s CCD frames using a 105-mm f/5.6 camera lens)

Alert Notice 383: Nova Scorpii 2008

September 6, 2008

Event: Nova in Scorpius

Discovered By: K. Nishiyama (Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan) and F. Kabashima (Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan); Y. Sakurai (Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan); and Guoyou Sun (Qufu, Shandong, China) and Xing Gao (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China)

Discovery Date: 2008 September 02.4594 UTC (JD 2454711.9594)

Discovery Magnitude: m = 9.5 (unfiltered)

Position: RA = 17h 57m 32.93s , Dec = -30d 43m 10.1s (from Nishiyama and Kabashima)

Alert Notice 384: Outburst of GK Persei

September 24, 2008: As reported in AAVSO Special Notice #125, the cataclysmic variable GK Persei appears to be entering another outburst.  The object began a slow rise on or about 2008 September 10 UT (JD 2454719.5), rising nearly one magnitude above its typical quiescent level of m(vis) = 13, to near m(vis) = 12.2 at present (2008 September 24 UT, JD 2454733.5).  This rate of brightening is typical of past outbursts, and suggests a rise to full outburst may occur soon.  However, this activity comes much sooner than expected based on past intervals between outbursts, and

Nova Delphini 2013: The story so far

Nova Delphini 2013 (also named V339 Del) is the biggest cosmic event in variable star astronomy this year, and this naked-eye nova is providing the community a wealth of new data on this important class of objects.  The amateur astronomical community has made an enormous contribution of data for Nova Del so far, and now is a good time to review all that's happened so far in this nova outburst, and how the amateur community has played a role.

Alert Notice 409: V5584 Sgr = Nova Sagittarii 2009 Number 4

October 29, 2009

 

Event: Nova in Sagittarius (V5584 Sgr = N Sgr 2009 No. 4)

Discovered By: Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan, and F. Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan

Discovery Date: Oct. 26.439 UT (two frames from Oct. 26.439 and 26.440)

Discovery Magnitude: unfiltered CCD magnitude 9.3, using a 105-mm f/4 camera lens

What's in store for Nova Del 2013?

No one knows what Nova Del 2013 will do next, but there are some tantalizing possibilities. 

The current AAVSO light curve for Nova Del 2013

So far it appears Nova Del 2013 is a 'slow nova', type NB in VSX. By definition, it takes 150 days or more for a slow nova to fade by 3 magnitudes. 

Sometimes "or more" can mean a lot of other exciting goings on.