Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi In Outburst

[Greg Bryant]

Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi is undergoing an outburst for the first time since 1985. Normally around 12th - 13th magnitude, it has brightened in the last few hours to about magnitude 4.5.

Background information on the recurrent nova can be found here:
http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/0500.shtml

[Greg Bryant]

Sebastian Otero has just prepared the following finder chart.

http://ar.geocities.com/varsao/Carta_RS_Oph_SV.htm

Some more background reading about this fascinating star is here:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/variablestars/article_742_1.asp

[Miaplacidus]

Thanks, Greg,

I've been trying to figure out if I'll be able to see it from Hobart. Maybe if I get up early... The finder chart should help.

cheers,

Brian.

[mickoking]

I'll try to be up a 3:30 am :zzz2:

[gaa_ian]

I will have to get up in the AM to have a look at that one !

[astroron]

Set the alarm for 03:30, leapt out of bed and as quickly back in again as it was comppletly overcast,try again tomorrow morning.:zzz2: :stargaze: :cloudy: :astron:

[h0ughy]

Just a quick question, does anyone have a pre image of this area, to compare with for those looking for the first time and imaging it.

[jjjnettie]

Another excellent reason to get up early!

[gaa_ian]

I tried this morning too, clouds prevented any viewing :cloudy:

[mickoking]

G,day cobbers,

I woke up early this morning to view the Nova. I grabbed my short tube, an eyepiece and star atlas and headed outside. The moon was bright and there was some hazy cloud but I swept up the object easily. I recorded some details in my observing log and eventually went back to bed. When I woke up I proceed to check my data and SHOCK HORROR. I was looking at the wrong star :doh: Insead of RS ophiuchi I was studying V2048 ophiuchi. Not since I viewed DSO's with a moon filter have I felt like such a tool.

I will try again tommorow ;)

[astroron]

Mick you where seeing the right star , this star comes comes under both headings.astroron

[gaa_ian]

I will certainly be having another go at it again in the morning !

[gaa_ian]

RS was an Easy find this morning !
When you look at the "L" asterism at the bottom of Serpens, the short leg of the "L" points straight at RS Oph.
To my Eye & through a set of 16x60 bino's, it had a distinctly orange hue.
The givaway is that it was the bright star that should not be there !
Quite stoked to have seen my first "Cataclysmic Nova Outburst"

[Astroman]

Must give this one a go when this cloud goes away, but my fear is that it will fade out before then. How long do these nova events last for? typically?

[mickoking]

Are you sure. I checked Uranometria and Nortons star atlas and I'm pretty certain I viewed the wrong star.

It was too cloudy this morning so I will try again tomorrow morningthe view the real RS ophiuchi ;)

[mickoking]

I was checking Burnhams celestrial handbook and aparrently it does fade fairly rapidly, I hope I don't miss it either.

[astroron]

Deffinatly, go to Greg Bryants post and download the goecities page and see for yourself. astroron

[fringe_dweller]

as far as I can make out - the first phase can last up to 60 days, am I correct?
I am looking forward to the Ha end phase :astron: :eyepop:
well - theres two reasons for a morning session atm ;)
thanks for heads up Greg :thumbsup:

[fringe_dweller]

I see U.S. S&T website has an update for feb the 17th that Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi has faded to 6.4 - and is fading at about .4 mag a day

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/variablestars/article_1678_1.asp

[Astroman]

Observations summarised by CBAT .
Its already fading

RS OPHIUCHI
C. Buil, Castanet, France, reports that an optical spectrogram
(resolution 16000) of RS Oph, obtained on Feb. 14.21 UT with a 0.28-m
Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector, shows a broad emission line of H-alpha
(FWHM = 3930 km/s); the total width of the H-alpha line at the base
is 7540 km/s. A narrow and intense double-peaked structure of
H-alpha is present, with a red/blue-peak separation of 84 km/s; the
intensity of the principal peak is 11.7 times that of the local
continuum.
G. Sostero, Udine, Italy, reports the following CCD magnitudes
(estimated uncertainties +/- 0.05 mag) of RS Oph obtained by E. Guido
and himself using a remotely operated 0.25-m reflector near Mayhill,
NM -- except for the photometry on Feb. 14.2 UT, which was obtained
by M. and V. Gonano at Remanzacco, Italy, also with a 0.25-m reflector:
Feb. 13.490, B = 5.90; 13.491, V = 5.00; 13.493, R_c = 4.40;
14.181, B = 6.02; 14.196, V = 5.22; 14.199, R_c = 4.43; 14.209,
I_c = 3.76; 14.487, B = 6.25; 14.488, V = 5.47; 14.490, R_c = 4.40;
16.484, B = 6.99; 16.485, V = 6.23; 16.487, R_c = 5.04.
Visual magnitude estimates of RS Oph: Feb. 14.132 UT, 5.4
(H. G. Lindberg, Skultuna, Sweden; communicated by H. Bengstsson,
Hisings Backa, Sweden); 14.172, 5.2 (C. Norrman, Hallstahammar,
Sweden; via Bengtsson); 16.858, 6.8 (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia).