Sunday, May 20, 2012

Another Possible Nova in Oph

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page about a possible Nova in Oph (TOCP Designation: J17395600-2447420) we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through the 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD of ITelescope network (MPC Code - H06).

On our images taken on May 20.3, 2012 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude 9.5 at coordinates:

R.A. = 17 39 57.00,  Decl.= -24 47 07.3

(equinox 2000.0; CMC-14 catalogue reference stars).

Below you can see  animation showing a comparison between our confirmation image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1996). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:



Our confirmation image. Click on it for a bigger version:


UPDATE - May 28, 2012

According to Cbet 3124, this variable has been designated NOVA OPHIUCHI 2012 No. 2. This nova was discovered by John Seach, Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia, on six images (limiting mag 11.0) taken on May 19.484 UT with a digital SLR camera (+ 50-mm f/1.0 lens). Spectra obtained by different observers (T. Bohlsen, W. Vollmann, K. Imamura, F. M. Walter, C. Buil) suggests that the object is a classical nova.

Spectrum by K. Imamura (OUS)


by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

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