June 5, 2018
Event: Nova in Lupus - N Lup 2018 = PNV J15384000-4744500
Discovered by: Rob Kaufman (Bright, Victoria, Australia) at White Cliffs, NSW, Australia (via CBET 4520)
Discovery magnitude: 9.1 unfiltered CCD magnitude, object visible in 5 DSLR frames taken with 55mm lens (via CBET 4520)
Discovery date: 2018 June 03.4306 UT (via CBET 4520)
Coordinates (2000.0): R.A. 15 38 43.86 Decl. -47 44 42.1 (from VSX)
Spectra: Spectroscopy indicating that N Lup 2018 is a classical optically-thick nova near peak was obtained by:
- Dr. Frederick M. Walter (Stony Brook University) on 2018 June 2018 3.165 UT using the Chiron spectrograph on the SMARTS 1.5m telescope at CTIO. He reports that the equivalent widths of various diffuse interstellar bands suggest an interstellar extinction of about 1.5 mag (ATel #11681).
- Dr. E. Aydi et al. (South African Astronomical Obs., University of Cape Town), who obtained subsequent high-resolution spectroscopy on 2018 June 04.76 UT using the High Resolution Spectrograph mounted on the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). Their detailed list of line identifications may be seen in ATel #11684.
Observing recommendations: Observations of all types (visual, CCD, DSLR, PEP, spectroscopy) and multiple bands as instrumentation permits are strongly encouraged as the nova evolves.
Observations reported to the AAVSO:
May 22.2374, <15.697 V (ASAS-SN observation, sent via R. Kaufman; via CBET 4520);
Jun. 03.5670, 9.69 B (S. Kiyota, Kamagaya, Japan, with iTelescope T17 (0.43-m f/6.8 CDK astrograph + FLI PL4710 CCD) at Siding Spring Obs., NSW, Australia; via CBET 4520);
03.5670, 8.98 V (Kiyota, via CBET 4520);
03.5670, 8.60 Rc (Kiyota, via CBET 4520);
03.5670, 8.19 Ic (Kiyota, via CBET 4520);
03.88611, 9.7 (A. Amorim, Florianapolis, Brazil);
04.01111, 9.6 (Amorim);
04.42778, 10.1 (C. Wyatt, Walcha, NSW, Australia);
04.50207, 8.600 I +/-0.001 (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia);
04.50262, 9.320 R +/-0.002 (Pearce);
04.50289, 10.085 V +/-0.003 (Pearce);
04.50338, 11.188 B +/-0.003 (Pearce);
04.58506, 10.165 V +/-0.033 (F. Guenther, Frederick, MD);
04.58567, 11.281 B +/-0.029 (Guenther);
04.58640, 9.344 R +/-0.051 (Guenther);
04.59200, 8.656 I +/-0.043 (K. Menzies, Framingham, MA);
04.59278, 10.136 V +/-0.014 (Menzies);
04.59344, 11.233 B +/-0.013 (Menzies);
04.65244, 10.164 V +/-0.040 (Guenther);
04.65278, 10.3 (Pearce);
04.65304, 11.240 B +/-0.042 (Guenther);
04.65376, 9.338 R +/-0.045 (Guenther);
04.69560, 10.104 TG +/-0.004 (D. Blane, Henley-on-Klip, S. Africa);
04.97917, 10.3 (R. Tyson, Freeport, NY);
05.59028, 10.2 (Pearce);
05.69170, 10.246 TG +/-0.016 (Blane);
Charts: Charts with a comparison star sequence for N Lup 2018 may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP).
Submit observations: Please submit observations to the AAVSO International Database using the name N LUP 2018. Once a GCVS name is announced in an IAU Circular or CBET, please use that name.
AAVSO Forums: N Lup 2018 is the topic of the AAVSO Time Sensitive Alerts forum thread
https://www.aavso.org/pnv-j15384000-4744500-possible-nova-90-mag-lupus-%E2%80%93-another-discovery-rob-kaufman
and the AAVSO Novae forum thread
https://www.aavso.org/pnv-j15384000-4744500-possible-nova-90-mag-lupus-%E2%80%93-another-discovery-rob-kaufman-1
Notes:
a. Designated PNV J15384000-4744500 when posted to the IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP). Some information in this Alert Notice is taken from IAU CBET 4520.
b. P. Schmeer (Saarbruecken-Bischmisheim, Germany) writes that a Gaia DR2 star of magnitude 19.36 G is 1.0" from the position reported by Kiyota-san; another designation for this star is GSC2.3 S8TZ090424 (15 38 43.898 -47 44 40.87; F= 17.55, Bj= 20.19, N= 17.70 mag). He adds that he found no previous outbursts or eruptions in images taken by the ASAS-SN Sky Patrol from 2016 March through 2018 May 22.2374 UT.
c. Position end figures
- S. Kiyota (2018 Jun. 03.56708.19; via CBET 4520): 43.84s, 41.07"
- A. Pearce (2018 June 4.502 UT; via CBET 4520): 43.85s, 41.0"
d. Images
- R. Kaufman (discovery image; 2018 June 03.4306 UT; via CBET 4520): http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/Rob_Kau/PNV%20J15384000-4744500%20discovery%20image.jpg~original
Congratulations to Rob Kaufman on his latest discovery!
This AAVSO Alert Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.
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