Alert Notice 531: Nova Ophiuchi 2015 Number 2 = TCP J17344775-2409042 [V2949 Oph]

October 14, 2015

Event: Nova Oph 2015 No. 2 = TCP J17344775-2409042  [V2949 Oph]

Independent discovery by:  
 - Koichi Nishiyama (Kurume, Japan) and Fujio Kabashima (Miyaki, Japan)
 - Shigehisa Fujikawa (Kan'onji, Kagawa, Japan)

Discovery magnitude:
 - Nishiyama and Kabashima: 11.8 unfiltered (CCD, using a 135-mm f/4 camera lens (+FLI 09000 camera))
 - Fujikawa: 12.1 unfiltered (CCD using a MINOLTA F 3.5 f 120mm lens)

Discovery date:
 - Nishiyama and Kabashima: 2015 October 11.4129 UT
 - Fujikawa: 2015 Oct 11.41474 UT

Coordinates (2000.0): R.A. 17 34 47.75  Dec -24 09 04.2 (Nishiyama and Kabashima, in VSX)

Spectra: A low resolution spectrum obtained at Van Vleck Observatory by C. Littlefield (Wesleyan University) and P. Garnavich (Notre Dame) on 2015 October 11.99 UT across an airmass range of 3.6-4.5, which yielded noisy data, indicate the nova to be an Fe II-type classical nova (ATel #8156). Spectra by M. Fujii (Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan) obtained on 2015 October 12.421 UT at Fujii Kurosaki Observatory indicate a highly reddened nova (CBET 4150). His spectrogram is posted at http://otobs.org/FBO/etc/tcp_oph.htm.

Observing recommendations: This nova is faint, but observations of all types (visual, CCD, DSLR, spectroscopy) as instrumentation permits are strongly encouraged as this nova evolves.

Charts: Charts for Nova Oph 2015 No. 2 may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP). Be sure to include spaces in the name as shown.

Observations reported to the AAVSO (observations except for those by O'Connor, Kaufman, and Aquirre are via CBET 4150):
Oct. 7.405, <13.4 (Nishiyama and Kabashima);
11.394, 12.0 unfiltered (T. Kojima, Tsumagoi, Gunma-ken, Japan, pre-discovery observation);
11.490, 11.7 unfiltered CCD (S. Fujikawa, Kan'onji, Kagawa, Japan, confirming image);
11.721, 11.2 CR (G. Masi, remotely using the 17"-f/6.8 robotic unit part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility at Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory,Ceccano, Italy);
12.06870 UT, 9.90 I +/-0.07 (S. O'Connor, St. George, Bermuda);
12.07110, 11.89 V +/-0.03 (O'Connor);
12.07380, 11.70 CV +/-0.04 (O'Connor);
12.0900, 13.65 B (S. Kiyota, Kamagaya, Japan, remotely using 0.50-m f/4.5 CDK astrograph + FLI-PL11002M CCD f iTelescope.NET at Mayhill, NM, USA);
12.0900, 12.04 V (Kiyota);
12.0900, 11.12 Rc (Kiyota);
12.0900, 10.09 Ic (Kiyota);
13.38560, 11.56 R +/-0.05 (O'Connor);
13.407, 12.9 V (T. Yusa, Osaki, Japan, remotely using the 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD(FLI Proline 16803)at the iTelescopeNET, Siding Spring, Australia).
14.05870, 10.4 I +/-0.1 (O'Connor);
14.06100, 13.33 V +/-0.08 (O'Connor);
14.06350, 12.82 CV +/-V0.03 (O'Connor);
14.06944, <11.2 (S. Aguirre, Hermosillo, Mexico);
14.37700, 10.68 I +/-0.05 (O'Connor);
14.37840, 12.05 R +/-0.05 (O'Connor);
14.37990, 13.32 V +/-0.02 (O'Connor);
14.38120, 14.00 TB +/-0.14 (O'Connor);
14.38120, 14.87 TB +/-0.04 (O'Connor);
14.38250, 13.00 CV +/-0.02 (O'Connor);

Submit observations: Please submit observations to the AAVSO International Database using the name NOVA OPH 2015 NO. 2. Be sure to include spaces in name as shown. Once a GCVS name has been assigned, please use that name.

Notes:
a. Announced in IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 4150 (Daniel W. E. Green, ed.). Assigned the name TCP J17344775-2409042 when posted to the IAU CBAT Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP). The majority of information in this Alert Notice was provided via CBET 4150.

b. Nishiyama and Kabashima confirmed the object's presence on four 40-s unfiltered CCD frames taken around 2015 Oct 11.473 UT. They also report nothing is visible down to magnitude 13.4 at this location on a survey frame taken 2015 Oct. 07.405 UT, nor on DSS.

c. Nishiyama and Kabashima report the nearest star in IGSL3 has position end figures 47.352s, 02.06", distance 5.9", and magnitude R2=18.55, I=16.44. P. Schmeer (Bischmisheim, Germany) reports the nearest USNO-B1.0 catalog source is USNO-B1.0 0658-0470476 (p.e. figures 47.346, 01.77), R1=18.88, R2=18.55, I=16.44. S. O'Connor reports the IR/2MASS source IRAS 17317-2407 has p.e. figures 48.27s, 02.6s.  

d. Position end figures:
 - S. Fujikawa (Kan'onji, Kagawa, Japan, communicated by M. Soma, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, via CBET 4150), 2015 Oct 11.41474 UT, 47.36s, 06.6".
 - G. Masi (remotely as above), 2015 October 11.72132 UT, 47.74(02)s, 04.0(02)".
 - T. Yusa (Osaki, Japan, remotely as above), 2015 October 13.40691 UT, 47.74s, 03.7".

e. Images:
 - S. Kiyota (Kamagaya, Japan), 2015 October 12.0900 UT:  http://meineko.sakura.ne.jp/ccd/TCP_J17344775-2409042.jpg
 - T. Yusa (Osaki, Japan, remotely as above), 2015 October 13.40691 UT: http://space.geocities.jp/yusastar77/supernova/NVinOph_151013.htm


Congratulations to Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima and to Shigehisa Fujikawa on their discoveries!
 

This AAVSO Alert Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.

----------------------------------
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO

Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
http://www.aavso.org/webobs

ALERT NOTICE ARCHIVE AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

An Alert Notice archive is available at the following URL:
http://www.aavso.org/alert-notice-archive

Subscribing and Unsubscribing may be done at the following URL:
http://www.aavso.org/observation-notification#alertnotices

-------------------------------------------------

Please support the AAVSO and its mission -- Join or donate today:
http://www.aavso.org/apps/donate/