Nova in LMC

[andyc]

Just been checking up on the brightness progress of SN2012aw, and see that at the bright supernovae page:
http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
the top of the tree has a 10.7 magnitude nova in the LMC. I think unconfirmed as yet, but apparently an He/N class nova, and will probably fade within a few weeks, but worth a look? I don't know how common LMC novae are, so apologies if this is a run-of-the-mill event!

[Rob_K]

Thanks Andy, not a run-of-the-mill event at all. Since 1920, the rate of nova detection in the LMC has been 0.6 per year, or one every 20 months. Better detection in modern times probably lifts this to a touch better than one a year for recent years.

There's a lot happening in the sky at the moment - apart from the current nova in Carina (V834 Carinae = Nova Carinae 2012) & the new discovery in the LMC, there are possible novae in Centaurus (mag 9s) and Ophiuchus (mag 12s). The whole sky's blowing up! :lol:

http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J17260708-2551454.html (Ophiuchus)
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J13410800-5815470.html (Centaurus)
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=4002 (LMC)
http://www.aavso.org/aavso-alert-notice-455 (Carina)

Cheers -

[Terry B]

Special Notice #270: Possible Recurrent Nova in the LMC = TCP J04550000-7027150

AAVSO Website is going offline 28 March between 10:00AM-12:00PM ET. Details at http://www.aavso.org/pipermail/aavso-discussion/2012-March/026812.html .
March 27, 2012: A possible nova in the LMC discovered at unfiltered magnitude 10.7 on 2012 March 26.397 UT (name of discoverer not given) was reported on the IAU CBAT Transient Objects Confirmation Page. Spectra indicate the object may be a recurrent nova.

J. Hambsch reports that as of March 28.04 UT, the object appears to be fading fast and is at least one magnitude fainter than 24 hours ago.

Coordinates (2000.0):
RA 04 54 56.81 Dec -70 26 56.4 (T. Bohlsen, Armidale, NSW, Australia)
RA 04 54 57.1 +/-0.2 Dec -70 26 56.2 +/-0.3 (J. Hambsch, Mol, Belgium)

Spectra by Fred Walter (SUNY Stony Brook) on 2012 March 26.9972 UT indicate the object to be a nova very similar to U Sco very early in outburst. Thus, the object appears to be a recurrent nova.

J. L. Prieto (Princeton University, ATEL #4002) reports that a spectrum obtained on 2012 March 27.0 UT using the du Pont 2.5-m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory looks similar to the earliest spectrum of LMC 1990 No. 1 (Williams et al. 1991, ApJ, 376, 721).

Observations reported to the AAVSO include:
Mar. 27.4416 UT, 12.54 B (T. Bohlsen, Armidale, NSW, Australia);
27.4416, 12.66 V (Bohlsen);
27.4416, 11.84 R (Bohlsen);
27.4416, 11.61 I (Bohlsen);

Charts: A sequence is available that utilizes AAVSO All-Sky Photometric Survey (APASS) data and ranges from 9.0 to 16.0. Charts may be plotted using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP) at http://www.aavso.org/vsp.

Until an official name is assigned, please report observations to the AAVSO International Database as TCP J04550000-7027150.

This AAVSO Special Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.

[andyc]

Thanks very much for the information guys! Might try tracking one or two of these down. Certainly seems to be a lot of activity at the moment, all the better for providing interesting observing targets :)

[PeterM]

Here is some more information taken from the CBET. Congratulations to John Seach. I seem to recall his name associated with a few Nova. Is he a member of IIS I wonder?
PeterM

"Electronic Telegram No. 3071
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 2012 = TCP J04550000-7027150
John Seach, Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia, reports his discovery of
a possible nova (mag 10.7) in the LMC taken with a digital SLR camera (+ 50-mm f/1.0 lens) on Mar. 26.397 UT; he gave the position as R.A. = 4h55m00s, Decl. = -70d27'15" (equinox 2000.0)"

[Rob_K]

I don't think he's a member Peter. He's discovered quite a few novae, and just in the last few weeks has discovered Nova Car 2012, Nova Cen 2012 and Nova LMC 2012! Surely something of a record!!

John is well-known as a "volcano adventurer" and runs the VolcanoLive website. Nova discoveries are just a sideline, LOL! :lol:
http://www.volcanolive.com/

Cheers -