Another new Nova!!!!???

[Merlin66]

A new alert on VSNET, thanks to Patrick Schmeer ;-)

PNV J13532700-6725110 (N:)

RA 13h53m27.00s, DEC -67°25'11.0" (J2000.0)
2018 Jan. 19.708 UT, 9.1 mag (CCD, unfiltered)
Discoverer: John Seach (Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia)

"2018 01 19.708 UT
Possible new nova in Circinus. Discovered by John Seach, Chatsworth
Island, NSW, Australia. DSLR with 50 mm f/1.2 lens. Object visible
on 3 images. No object identified at position on 3 images taken
with same instrument on Jan 18.7 UT. No minor planet or variable
star at position. No object on DSS2-red."

Follow-up reports:
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J13532700-6725110.html

A Gaia DR1 source (position end figures 26.92s, 10.47"; G= 18.10 mag)
is located only 0.7" from the reported position of the transient.
Further designations: USNO-A2.0 0225-18431574 (B= 19.2, R= 17.7 mag),
USNO-B1.0 0225-0595724, 2MASS J13532702-6725105, NOMAD1 0225-0600516,
XPM 045-0587677. The nearest GALEX source (GALEX J135327.5-672500)
is 11" away.
According to ASAS-SN Sky Patrol observations (Shappee et al.
2014ApJ...788...48S and Kochanek et al. 2017PASP..129j4502K) this
eruption began very recently: 2018 Jan. 18.341 UT, V= 15.75 mag
(probably contaminated by nearby stars); 19.339, 9.00.
https://asas-sn.osu.edu/light_curves/c57f176f-f41b-4c47-be49-581739797b28

Spectroscopy and precise astrometry are urgently required.

[Rob_K]

You can almost bet this is a nova - John Seach is a legend of 'nova-hunting'. There's also another object in Scorpius that I managed to confirm yesterday morning, PNV J17180658-3204279. Much fainter at mag 11 but it's a red or reddened object and looks good for a nova. Dimmer because of localised extinction and needs a spectrum. Discovered by Hideo Nishimura who already has 20 novae to his credit!
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J17180658-3204279.html

Cheers -

[Merlin66]

http://www.novae.science/john.html

Gives details of John's discoveries.

[Rob_K]

Thanks Ken. There's an inspirational story for you, searching for comets & novae for 19 years before he discovered his first nova - then ten in five years! I remember well his 5 novae in 12 weeks in 2012, awesome!

Cheers -

[skysurfer]

John Seach ? Is that the volcano man (http://www.volcanolive.com) ?

[Rob_K]

Yep, he's the volcano man!

Cheers -

[Merlin66]

Here's a chance for the AP guys....
Was anyone imaging in/ around this area in the past few days/ weeks?????
Always worthwhile doing a quick visual check for any "Red Suspects"....
If you have a plate solved image it can be imported to CdCV4 and blink compared to the atlas....

[Merlin66]

Tonights spectrum shows Ha in emission - certainly nova like.....

[Rob_K]

This object and the one reported in Scorpius have now been confirmed spectroscopically as novae - awaiting CBETs. Three in a week!!
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11209

Cheers -

[Rob_K]

The new nova in Circinus (PNV J13532700-6725110) is brightening fairly rapidly at the moment and is possibly around 6.4 or brighter visually. The AAVSO visual light curve is attached. The recent mag 7.5 obs shown is not really a visual observation - it's a strange one done 'visually' from a SLOOH image and can safely be ignored as an outlier.

So this nova is well worth watching to see how bright it will get, despite the moonlight. :thumbsup: And a spectrum or two wouldn't hurt - I've done spectra over the last few nights that are pretty much featureless and show no signs of emissions.

Cheers -