Clouded out until about 2:30am
Baader 207 l/mm on Genesis (4"f5) clearly shows the Ha/ Hb emission which have increased over the past couple of days.
I did manage to set-up the Spectra-L200/1800 but PHD let me down and clouds moved in.
I recorded some images around Ha. let's see what they show.....
Some clear weather last night, although seeing was fairly average. Propped my eyelids open for a little later this time and got a slightly better result with the increased altitude (abot 18 degrees). Used Alpha Cir for calibration which is possibly not an ideal choice.
Also attached an image showing the colour evolution from my data so far.
Tonight's low-res spectrum attached, little change other than the H-alpha emission continuing to strengthen. SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens on Vixen Polarie, 25 x 13 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6. Nova at just under 2.5-deg altitude, imaged from White Cliffs, NSW, Australia.
Here are my spectra of the nights of 11-12 December UT - the last two mornings - showing increase in all emission lines.
Cheers
Jonathan
Nice job Jonathan! Here's mine from tonight (13.58 Dec 2013 UT, or 12:48 am, 14 Dec 2013 local AEDST time, UT+11), SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens on Vixen Polarie, 30 x 13 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6. Nova at 8-deg altitude, bright moonlight, imaged from White Cliffs, NSW, Australia.
Thanks for sharing!
Clouded out again down here in Melbourne!
The nova appears to be brightening again and the Ha emission seems to still be on the increase.....
Thanks for sharing!
Clouded out again down here in Melbourne!
The nova appears to be brightening again and the Ha emission seems to still be on the increase.....
Clouded out here, too.
The re brightening seems to have peaked on Thursday night and a slow fade started, but it's hard to tell from the AAVSO light curve as there's so little photometry being done. From our spectra we see Ha increasing.
But at the same time the B-V value is decreasing -i.e. the star is getting bluer. This seemed odd at first. But I'm guessing that when a significant part of the star's flux is Hydrogen emission, the usual BV shorthand for star colour doesn't work so simply. It's fine for normal stars that basically follow black body radiation curves; if B is brighter than V then V will also be brighter than R; there's a slope across the spectrum determined by the star's temperature. But here, with both Ha and Hb contributing more and more, B-V will decrease, but V-R will increase; that is, the star will be getting both bluer and redder. Rather than a Planck black body curve there will be a saddle-shaped curve with a dip centred around about 5600 A, right in the middle of the V band.
I wish I had an R filter! Not to mention IR for the dust phase to come. Santa, are you listening?
Tonight's low-res spectrum attached (14.54 Dec 2013 UT), SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens on Vixen Polarie, 34 x 13 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6. Nova at 4.3-deg altitude, bright moonlight, imaged from White Cliffs, NSW, Australia.
Not getting any sleep, but watching a solid cloud bank sit above us.....
Seriously, anyone with a spectroscope/ grating should be observing this Nova..a chance of a lifetime to record such a bright object.
Not getting any sleep, but watching a solid cloud bank sit above us.....
Seriously, anyone with a spectroscope/ grating should be observing this Nova..a chance of a lifetime to record such a bright object.
Some visual observers in non-cloudy parts of the world had it at 3.2 yesterday! Re-brightening beyond its initial maximum. Is that usual?
Tonight's low-res spectrum attached (14.54 Dec 2013 UT), SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens on Vixen Polarie, 34 x 13 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6. Nova at 4.3-deg altitude, bright moonlight, imaged from White Cliffs, NSW, Australia.
Another clear night here and there appear to be significant changes in the spectrum of the nova. Terry Bohlsen, where are you?! Rather than the emission lines that have been showing at H-alpha & H-beta, absorption lines are evident. I re-shot it several times with the same result - calibration is not perfect but close enough. SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens, stack of 15 subs.
Cheers -
Easy question. Im in Niseko in Japan. Constant snow and no nova.
Im back after boxing day and will take spectra after then.
You guys are doing very well with the SA.
Terry
Tonight's low-res spectrum attached (15.65 Dec 2013 UT or 2:31 am, 16 Dec 2013 EDST, UT+11), SA100 grating with Canon 650D & 200mm lens on Vixen Polarie, 18 x 10 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6. Nova at 17.5-deg altitude, bright moonlight, imaged from White Cliffs, NSW, Australia (30.8-deg S).
