SN2009ip Oct 6 UT

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Greg,
I depends on the resolution required and the acceptable SNR....
But, I'd say around +13mag maybe close.....
(A slitless grating ie Star Analyser/ Rainbow Optics, which has very low resolution R=100/200 would get you a little further. The issue/problem would/could be background stars/ galaxy contaminating the spectrum..)

[pvelez (Pete)]

Having wrestled with my LISA and RC8 to get a decent spectrum for a mag 14 quasar last year, I can confirm its not easy once you go past mag 12.5 from suburban skies

Pete

[Terry B]

Clearly I have very dark skies and this helps. CBAT has accepted my spectra for confirmation of nova along with other amateur spectra. I didn't submit SN2009ip spectra to them but did create the astronomers telegram that was accepted.
This star was at the zenith and at mag~14 was ok. My follow up last week was smoke affected and the SN was low despite 2h of exposure. Very clear skies helps. Hopefully the smoke will clear and I will try again next week.

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

I continue to monitor this SN. Last night it had dimmed to R Mag 14.58. I've attached the image, as it has the best resolution so far. You can see some structure in NGC7259, but more importantly you can see the foreground star very close to the SN.

-Ivan

[allan gould]

This is one of the most interesting posts in a long while that I've read and really shows how far the amateur's abilities have come in such a short while.
Very exciting.
Allan

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

This is one of the most interesting posts in a long while that I've read and really shows how far the amateur's abilities have come in such a short while.
Very exciting.
Allan

I agree Allan. Spectroscopy is a lot harder, but useful photometry is well within an amateur's means.

With a moderate sized computerized scope, a modest camera, some filters and some careful work, I'm getting a real kick out of taking real photometry science data which is useful to professional researchers.

-Ivan

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

Just to keep those here on this board informed of the latest on this extremely interesting SN:

We continue to monitor it, and a couple of days ago it started to re-brighten, again. R-band photometry last night was 14.77.

This is the subject of this ATEL http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=4539

-Ivan