NOVA IN LUPUS

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's Transient Object Confirmation Page and on VSNET-Alert 13560 about a possible Nova in Lup we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through the 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD of Faulkes Telescope South (MPC Code - E10).

On our images taken on August 13.5, 2011 we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with filtered R-Bessel CCD magnitude 8.4 (USNO-B1.0 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 14 54 23.09, Decl.= -55 05 11.2

(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1.0 catalogue reference stars).

Our BRV image of Nova Lup (click on it for a bigger version):

Below you can see an animation showing a comparison between our image and the archive POSS2/UKSTU plate (R Filter - 1999). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

Astronomers at Stony Brook University report on The Astronomer's Telegram 3536 that a spectrum of the possible Nova Lup has been obtained on 2011 Aug 9 at 00h19mUT. This was obtained with the SMARTS 1.5m RC spectrograph at Cerro Tololo and confirms that the eruptive object in Lupus is an Fe II nova near maximum. The spectrum (3700-5400A at 4.1 A resolution) shows the Balmer lines of hydrogen (H-beta through H-10), and Fe II multiplet 42, in emission with P Cygni absorption components at a velocity of about -1000 km/s. The equivalent width of H-beta is about -130 A.

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Giovanni Sostero

Nova Ophiuchi 2010 (No. 2)

CBET circular No. 2176, issued on February 19, 2010, announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura (Japan) of a possible nova (mag 9.4) in Ophiuchus on two 13-s frames taken on Feb. 18.845 UT using a Minolta 120-mm f/3.5 lens and a Canon EOS 5D Digital camera.

On our images taken on February 20.5, 2010 through a 0.25-m, f/3,4 reflector +CCD, from GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM), we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 9.4 (UCAC2 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 17 26 32.15, Decl.= -28 49 41.8
(equinox 2000.0; UCAC2 catalogue reference stars).

According to Nishimura nothing is visible at this position on his survey frames taken during each month in the span 2009 Feb.-Oct. 15 and on 2010 Feb. 2, 4, 5, 7, and 13.84 UT (limiting mag 11).

Our confirmation image:

This is an animation showing a comparison between our image and the archive DSS plate:

On Vsnet mailing list Imamura-san (Okayama U. of Sci.) and Fujii-san have reported spectra of this object confirming it as a nova:

According to Taichi Kato "Halpha emission was accompanied by a P Cyg absorption (blue-shifted by1000 km/s). Balmer emission lines with P Cyg profiles (700 km/s for Halpha) and Fe II lines were visible."

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Possible Nova in Sagittarius

CBET circular No. 2140, issued on January 23, 2010, announces the discovery by John Seach (NSW, Australia) of a possible nova in Sagittarius (mag 8.5) on three 6-s CCD exposures (limiting mag 11) obtained on Jan. 20.22 UT with a Nikon D300 camera (+ 50-mm f/1.4 lens + orange filter).

The object is located at (position provided by S. Kiyota):

R.A. = 18h07m26s.79, Decl. -29d00'42".8 (equinox 2000.0)

Follow-up observers on CBET are noting that nothing is visible at this position on a DSS image.

UPDATE - January, 24

On CBET circular No. 2142, H. Maehara (Kyoto University) reports that a low-resolution spectrogram (range 400-800 nm) of the possible nova was obtained on Jan. 23.887 UT with the 25-cm telescope of the Kwasan Observatory. The spectrum shows H_alpha, H_beta, and Fe II emission lines. These features suggest that this object is a "Fe II"-class nova.

This transient has been designated  V5585 SAGITTARII = NOVA SAGITTARII 2010

(Credit: H. Maehara)

by Ernesto Guido

Possible Nova in Ophiuchus

CBET circular No. 2128, issued on January 16, 2010, announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura (Japan) of a possible nova (mag 8.4) on two 13-s frames taken on Jan. 15.857 UT with a Canon EOS 5D Digital Camera (+ Minolta 120-mm f/3.5 lens). The object is located at:

R.A. = 17h39m41s, Decl. = -21d39'47" (equinox 2000.0)

According to K. Kadota nothing is visible at this position on a red Digitized Sky Survey image from 1997 (limiting mag estimated to be 20 by S.Nakano).

Below the confirmation image of this outbursting object taken by K. Itagaki:

(Credit: K. Itagaki, Japan)

UPDATE - January, 23

According to CBET circular No. 2139, Hiroyuki Maehara (Kyoto University) reports that a low-resolution spectrum (range 400-800 nm) of this object was obtained on Jan. 22.890 UT with the 25-cm telescope at the Kwasan Observatory. The spectrum shows H_alpha and Fe II emission lines and suggests that this object is a classical nova just after maximum.

This transient has been designated: V2673 OPHIUCHI = NOVA OPHIUCHI 2010

by Ernesto Guido

NOVA SCUTI 2009

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Scuti, on 2009 November 09.08 we performed some follow-up of this object through a 0.25-m, f/3,4 reflector + CCD, from GRAS Observatory (near Mayhill, NM).

We can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 8.5 (UCAC-2 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 18 43 45.57, Decl.= -07 36 42.0

(equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Our confirmation image:

The extreme stellar crowding due to nearby field stars makes this measurement rather difficult. A comparison with a DSS red plate(limiting magnitude about 20), obtained on 1996, Aug. 13, fail to show a clear unambiguous pre-outburst precursor.

This is an animation showing of our image and the DSS plate:

More details about the discoverer have been provided on the CBET circular No. 2008, issued of 2009 November 09. This CBET announces the discovery of Hideo Nishimura (Japan) of a possible nova (mag 8) on two 10-s CCD frames (limiting magnitude 11.5) taken on Nov. 8.3699 and 8.3700 UT using a Canon EOS 5D camera (+ Minolta 120-mm f/3.5 lens).

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

NOVA SAGITTARII 2009 No. 4

Cbet circular No. 1994, issued on 2009 Oct. 26, announces the discovery by K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima of an apparent new Nova (mag 9.3) on images taken with a 105-mm f/4 camera lens in the course of their nova survey. Nothing is visible on their two recent survey frames taken on 20 & 21 October 2009 (limiting magnitude 13.9).

On our images taken on October 27.09 through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, near Mayhill (NM), we can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 9.0 (USNO-B1 Catalogue reference stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 18 31 32.81, Decl.= -16 19 07.5
(equinox 2000.0; USNO-B1 catalogue reference stars).

Our image of this transient:

by Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero

NOVA SAGITTARII 2009 No. 3

Cbet No. 1899 issued on 2009, August 07th announces the discovery by K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima of a possible nova (magnitude at discovery 7.7) in Sagittarius on two 60-s frames on Aug. 6.494 and 6.495 UT using 105-mm f/4 lens + unfiltered CCD.

The Nova position:

R.A. = 18h07m07s.67, Decl. = -33d46'33".9 (equinox 2000.0)

Independently the same nova has been discovered by All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) with a telephoto lens 200/2.8, diameter 70 mm + CCD + Johnson V filter.

G. Pojmanski, D. Szczygiel and B. Pilecki of Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory reported ASAS discovery on vsnet-alert 11369. According to ASAS images, the new object was V=7.78 on August 06, 2009.

Asas light curve and images are available here:

Credit: ASAS

Nova Sagittarii 2009 no. 3 has been confirmed spectroscopically as a nova by M. Fujii (Fujii Bisei Observatory, Okayama, Japan). The object shows Balmer series emission lines and Fe II emission lines. The FWHM of Halpha emission is 2300km/sec.

by Ernesto Guido

References:

http://www.astrouw.edu.pl/asas/ (ASAS)

http://ooruri.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/mailman/listinfo/ (VSNET)

http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/ (CBAT)

Possible Nova in Centaurus 2009

Following an alert note posted today by Grzegorz Pojmanski in the vsnet-alert newsgroup about a possible nova in Cen, on 2009 May. 13.57 we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through a 0.25-m, f/6 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, from the RAS Observatory (Moorook, Australia).

We can confirm the presence of an optical counterpart with unfiltered CCD magnitude about 8.6 (UCAC-2 Catalogue refernce stars) at coordinates:

R.A. = 13h31m15.77s, Decl. = -63o57'38".6 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Comparison with an Anglo-Australian Observatory Schmidt red plate (limiting magnitude about 20), obtained on 1997, Feb. 05, show that this position is nearly coincident with a field star, whose position end figures are 15s.68, 38".6, and magnitude about 15 (however, the extreme stellar crowding due to nearby field stars, makes this measurement rather difficult).

Our image of this transient is available at the following URL:

http://tinyurl.com/qlbesc

UPDATE

This nova has been designated V1213 Cen. For more info see also this paper on NATURE.

by Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero

Possible Nova in Sco

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Sco, on 2008 Sep. 3.45 we performedsome follow-up of this object remotely, from Moorook (Australia),through a 0.1-m, f/5 refractor + CCD.

We can confirm the presence of a relatively bright object (unfilteredmagnitude about 9.6) at coordinates:

R.A. = 17h57m32s.93, Decl. =-30o43'10".3 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Comparison with an archive UK-Schmidt Red plate (obtained on 1992,June 03) show no counterparts at this precise coordinates; a nearbyfield star, with position end figures: 32s.95, 08".1, has magnitudeabout 18.

Our confirmation image is available here:

http://tinyurl.com/5w5e8u

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Paul Camilleri

Possible Nova in Centaurus

Following an alert note of Grzegorz Pojmanski, Dorota Szczygiel and Bogumil Pilecki of Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory, about their discovery of a possible nova in Centaurus at coordinates: A.R.= 14h 35m 03s; Decl.= -64o 06.4', through the ASAS3V instrument of The All Sky Automated Survey, we performed some follow-up of this object, remotely from the Skylive-Grove Creek Observatory (Trunkey, Australia).

Our LBVRI images, obtained on 2008 Sep. 2.4 to 2.5, through a 0.3-m, f/6 reflector + CCD, shows the presence of a relatively bright counterpart at coordinates:

R.A. = 14h35m02s.54, Decl. = -64o06'20".0 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Comparison with an archive Poss-2 Red plate (obtained on 1991, Jul.17) and with a Poss-2 Infrared plate (obtained 1981, Mar.02) show the presence at this coordinates of an extremely faint optical counterpart, at the detection limit of the plate. These are the results of our multicolor photometry (comparison stars HIP_71437 and HIP_71400): 2008, Sept. 2.39: B=9.54, V=8.63, R=8.03, I= 7.42; Sept. 2.46: B=9.69, V=8.70, R=8.10, I= 7.60 (accuracy about 0.05 magn. in each color). An estimation by P. Camilleri (Hurstville, NSW, Australia) performed on 2008, Sept. 2.48, through a 20x80 binocular, provides a visual magnitude of 8.4.

Our image is available here:

http://tinyurl.com/5mcxrs

by Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido and Paul Camilleri

Another Possible Nova in Ophiucus

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about another possible nova in Ophiucus, today we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, near Mayhill (NM).

We can confirm the presence of a relatively bright counterpart at coordinates:

R.A. = 17h33m29s.62, Decl. = -27o 01'14".5 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Our multicolor photometry provides the following values: 2008, Jun. 2.23, B= +13.9, V= +12.8, R= +11.4 (accuracy +/- 0.1 magnitudes in each color).

Comparison with a UK Schmidt Telescope red plate, obtained on 1991, August 11 show nothing in this position (limiting magnitude near 20). See below our confirmation image (details are on the caption; click on it for a bigger version).

by E. Guido & G. Sostero (Remanzacco Observatory, Italy)

Possible Nova in Ophiucus

Following the posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Ophiucus, today we performed some follow-up of this object remotely through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD, near Mayhill (NM).

We can confirm the presence of a relatively bright counterpart at coordinates:

R.A. = 17h39m50s.95, Decl. = -23o 50'00".9 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars).

Our multicolor photometry provides the following values: 2008, May. 26.31, B= +11.42, V= +10.45, R= +9.81 (estimated accuracy +/- 0.05 magnitudes in each color).

Comparison with a UK Schmidt Telescope red plate, obtained on 1991, August 11 show nothing in this position (limiting magnitude near 20).

by Ernesto Guido & Giovanni Sostero

Possible Nova in Sagittarius

Prompted by an alert note published on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Sagittarius, today we performed some follow-up of this object through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD remotely, near Mayhill (NM).

We can confirm the presence of a relatively bright counterpart at coordinates:

R.A. = 18h05m58s.90, Decl. = -27o 13'56".3 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars):

by Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero

Possible Nova in Cygnus

Prompted by an alert note published on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage about a possible nova in Cygnus, today we performed some follow-up of this object through a 0.25-m, f/3.4 reflector + CCD remotely, near Mayhill (NM).

We can confirm the presence of a relatively bright counterpart at coordinates:

R.A. = 19h43m01s.98, Decl. = +32o 19'13".5 (equinox 2000.0; UCAC-2 catalogue reference stars):

Our multicolor photometry provides the following values: 2008, Apr. 11.36, B= +8.06, V= +7.54, R= +7.04; 2008, Apr. 11.46, B= +8.20, V= +7.77, R= +7.15 (accuracy +/- 0.05 magnitudes in each color).

by Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido