I've seen a Holden Nova, and I've even seen a Chevy Nova too -but I'd never seen a stellar one before! It was well worth the early wake up -and I even had enough time before twilight to go in and grab the camera and tripod. I've attached some shots I took from in amongst and between this morning's intermittent Melbourne cloud.
Regards from Dean.
I hate to admit it, but I've been doing astronomy on and off for 40 years and this is my first nova. I've seen a few supernova, but not the regular kind before!
I've seen a Holden Nova, and I've even seen a Chevy Nova too -but I'd never seen a stellar one before! It was well worth the early wake up -and I even had enough time before twilight to go in and grab the camera and tripod. I've attached some shots I took from in amongst and between this morning's intermittent Melbourne cloud.
Regards from Dean.
nice shots - its my first nova too - though i did steer clear of the holden nova
I don't normally get out of bed unless it's a supernova or better.. ! but, nature called at 4am this morning, so I got out of bed and had a look outside!! Great view in Binoculars too!! It reminded me of Supernova 1987A. The memories......
After two days of overcast conditions the night sky is clear again. The nova that was hard to observe with the unaided eye, has brightened and is now fairly easy to spot from my suburban location.
After scanning the nearby stars with 7x50 bino's, i'd say it is close to Mu1 Crucis in magnitude. So that would place it around Mag 4.0 with no obvious colour visible to my eyes.
I can now say I've seen my second naked-eye nova, but I can see why some people are having trouble with it. If I didn't know where to concentrate on I probably wouldn't have noticed. That said, the seeing has been pretty rubbish here this week.
Was looking at it naked eye just now and it is comparable to 3.2 mag Alpha Circini. It also appears brighter on the camera compared to any previous night.
Chris,
Based on ATel # 5639:
Quote:
It is interesting to note that from the widths of the Na I doublet, we
have preliminarily estimated an E(B-V) = 0.11 +. 0.08 from Poznanski et
al. (MNRAS, (2012), 426, 1465) and E(B-V) = 0.14 from Munari & Zwitter,
(A&A, (1997), 318, 269), which suggest a low extinction and a not large
distance for the nova.
Unquote
Chris,
Based on ATel # 5639:
Quote:
It is interesting to note that from the widths of the Na I doublet, we
have preliminarily estimated an E(B-V) = 0.11 +. 0.08 from Poznanski et
al. (MNRAS, (2012), 426, 1465) and E(B-V) = 0.14 from Munari & Zwitter,
(A&A, (1997), 318, 269), which suggest a low extinction and a not large
distance for the nova.
Unquote
Seems to be the only/ best estimate so far!!
Thanks Ken. I guess it's all relative!
Quote:
Originally Posted by malclocke
Nothing concrete, but the following astronomer telegram predicts a 'not large distance'.
I think the Nova has reached a new maximum. I would put it around mag 3.2 at Dec 14.5 ut, seemed almost identical brightness to alpha cir which is 3.18.
I wonder if the first maximum was a pre maximum halt?
Got another spectrum, will process and post tomorrow. Also saw 4 bright geminids
Managed to get out and take a pic this morning...
31subs @60sec ISO800 Canon 1100D, 80mm f5.6 refractor. Very slightly out of focus, didn't use BackyardEOS to focus..
Managed to get out and take a pic this morning...
31subs @60sec ISO800 Canon 1100D, 80mm f5.6 refractor. Very slightly out of focus, didn't use BackyardEOS to focus..
Great photo of this nova. Worth the effort. Thanks for posting Andrew.
I waited for the clouds to part and was rewarded with mostly clear skies at 0115 hrs AEST, Dec 15 (1515 hrs UT Dec 14). Nova Centauri 2013 has definitely brightened since my last observation. It is now easy to spot with the unaided eye through suburban light pollution and a 93% Moon. I'd say Nova Centauri 2013 was close to Mag 3.0 when compared to Alpha Circini. There was no obvious colour through 7x50 binoculars.
I think the Nova has reached a new maximum. I would put it around mag 3.2 at Dec 14.5 ut, seemed almost identical brightness to alpha cir which is 3.18.
I wonder if the first maximum was a pre maximum halt?
Got another spectrum, will process and post tomorrow. Also saw 4 bright geminids
Yes, it's certainly doing unusual things! Either a pre-maximum halt - in which case this is quite a slow nova, from what I've read. Or it's doing a set of slow transition oscillations of unusual intensity. So far, my reading on novae suggest that each is a little individual.
! It reminded me of Supernova 1987A. The memories......
