Possible Nova in Scutum

We have been informed by IAU CBAT (IAU Circular 8190) of the discovery of a possible nova in Scutum by Hideo Nishimura (Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken, Japan) on T-Max films taken on Aug. 28.58 (mag 8.5) and 29.436 UT (mag about 8.4).

August 30, 2003: Possible Nova in Scutum: Nova Scuti 2003

For updates on N Sct 03 spectra by Maurice Gavin, visit his web page on this interesting star.

Below is a spectrum of N Sct 03 taken by Maurice Gavin on Sep 3.823 UT. The spectrum is evolving very rapidly! This spectrum (taken in late twilight) shows a more classic nova appearance than his previous spectrum (see below) with the H-alpha emission now dominating. Click on the image below to blink between the two spectra.

Below is a spectrum of N Sct 03 taken by Maurice Gavin on Aug 31.887 UT. He points out that Nova Scuti does not currently display a classic nova spectrum and resembles the peculiar variable V 838 Mon [=Nova Mon 2002] which varied on a daily basis. For an overlay of V838 Mon onto Nova Sct 03, visit his webpage.

Below is a low-resolution spectrum of Nova Sct 2003 taken by Doug West in Mulvane, KS on 09/03/2003 2:10 UT. The spectrum was extracted from a 30 second exposure. The equipment forming the low-resolution spectrometer consists of a 0.2 m SCT + SBIG ST-9E CCD camera + Rainbow Optics Grating. MIRA and custom software are used to reduce the spectrum. The wavelength accuracy is approximately +/- 21 Angstrom. The signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) for the spectrum is greater than 10 and peaks at 6500 Angstrom with SNR = 27. H alpha and H Beta are in emission. The broad H alpha peak may be a combination of H alpha emission at 6562.8 and N II at 6583.4 and 6548.1 Angstrom.

Additional information about low-resolution spectroscopy can be found in the April 2002 edition of CCD Views or at http://members.aol.com/dwest61506/page50.html.

Below is a spectrum and an image of N Sct 03 taken by Paolo Corelli at the Mandi Observatory in Pagnacco Italy on August 31, 2003.