From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: 18 February 2007 01:39:55 GMT
Subject: Bright Nova in Scorpius

Hi all,
 
There's a bright nova in Scorpius, showing some very unusual behaviour. It has now reached about 
3rd magnitude, but it's very far South, so only observers in the far south of the Island have a 
reasonable chance of seeing it well. See the exerpt below from AAVSO circular, courtesy of 
Martin McKenna. The declination is a rather difficult -32 deg 20'!
 
According to Skymap Pro, even from Cork it has an altitude of only 3 deg 10' at 06.00, just 
after the start of astronomical twilight. By 06.30 it has reached about 4.5 deg above the 
horizon, but the sky is then much brighter. It lies about 2.5 degrees NE of Epsilon Scorpii; 
and about 10 deg below and right of Jupiter.
 
The attached map shows the approximate position, as seen from Cork, at 06.00 on 18 Feb. 
Star magnitudes for the brighter stars are shown to two decimal places, without the decimal 
point, e.g. Tau Scorpii is 2m.78. Where two figures are given, that's the range of a star 
which is variable.
.............................................................................................................
 THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS 
                  49 Bay State Road, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA 
				aavsoaavso.org 
                   Tel. 617-354-0484       Fax 617-354-0665 

                  AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 346 (February 16, 2007) 

SUBJECT: 1651-32 V1280 SCO = NOVA SCORPII 2007 

Event: Very Bright Nova in Scorpius 

This nova, discovered at 9th magnitude 12 days ago, has brightened dramatically in the past 
few days to 3rd magnitude, becoming one of the brightest novae in the past several years. 
It has gained the attention of the professional community and will be observed by 
numerous satellites, including Chandra, Swift, and INTEGRAL. 

Discovered Independently by: 
- Yuji Nakamura, Kameyama, Mie, Japan (reported by H. Yamaoka, Kyushu 
University, IAU Circular 8803); 
- Yukio Sakurai, Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan (reported by S. Nakano, Sumoto, 
Japan, IAU Circular 8803) 

Discovery Date: 
- Nakamura: Feb. 4.8624 UT 
- Sakurai: Feb. 4.854 UT 

Discovery Magnitude: 
- Nakamura: 9.9 on two unfiltered CCD images taken with a 135-mm camera lens; 
- Sakurai:  9.4 on two 10-s CCD exposures taken with a Fuji FinePix S2 Digital Camera (+ Nikon 180-mm f/2.8 lens) 

Position: 
Positions have been reported by Nakamura, Sakurai, Nakano, and Kadota. 
Please use the following position measured by Arne Henden, AAVSO, from 
photometry obtained at Sonoita Research Observatory: 

R.A. = 16h 57m 41.26s, Decl. = -32o 20' 35.6" (epoch 2000.0) 

Nakamura reports nothing was detected at his position on images taken Jan. 
29.8669 UT (limiting mag 12.0) or Feb. 2.8662 (limiting mag 11.0). Sakurai 
reports nothing visible on a CCD frame taken on Feb. 2.8 UT. 

Spectra: In IAU Circular 8803, H. Naito and S. Narusawa, Nishi-Harima Astronomical 
Observatory (NHAO), reported that they obtained a low-dispersion spectrum of N Sco 2007 
on Feb. 5.87 UT with the 2.0-m NAYUTA telescope (+ MALLS) that suggests the variable 
is a classical nova caught near maximum light. In IAU Circular 8807, H. Yamaoka, 
Kyushu University, writes that low-resolution spectroscopy obtained by M. Fujii, Ibara, 
Okayama, Japan, on Feb. 12.88 and 14.83 UT, and by H. Naito on Feb. 14.86, shows a much 
bluer continuum than in the spectroscopy taken on Feb. 5.87; the new spectra resemble the 
spectrum of an F-type star. Balmer lines show clear P-Cyg profiles, along with other weak 
lines. 

AAVSO Chart(s): A chart of V1280 Sco with a sequence bright enough for the 
current state of the nova is in preparation and will be posted. Currently, 
it is recommended observers use the following comparison stars provided by 
Michael Simonsen, Imlay City, MI: 
                                 RA (2000)    Dec (2000) 
1. SAO 208116 = GSC 7868-1820 16:52:20.144 -38:01:03.13 V(Tycho) 3.56 B-V -0.210 
2. SAO 183957 = GSC 6791-2509 15:56:53.076 -29:12:50.66 V(Tycho) 3.86 B-V -0.199 
3. SAO 207732 = GSC 7353-3152 16:31:22.933 -34:42:15.72 V(Tycho) 4.23 B-V -0.168 

Report Object to the AAVSO as: 1651-32 V1280 SCO 

How to Observe: visually or photometrically (V, Rc, or Ic filter) 

Observations Reported to the AAVSO: 
Feb. 5.818 UT, 8.9 CCD, K. Kadota (via S. Nakano, IAU Circular 8803); 
08.3229, 8.0, A. Amorim, Florianopolos, Brazil; 
08.7293, 7.9 CCD, T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy; 
08.7301, 7.9 CCDR, Scarmato; 
08.7317, 8.0 CCDB, Scarmato; 
09.4694, 6.9, L. Shotter, Uniontown, PA; 
10.844, 7.5 (K. Kanai, Gunma, Japan, Kanai mags via H. Yamaoka, IAU Circular 8807); 
11.4486, 6.9, Shotter; 
11.794, 7.0, Kanai; 
12.3264, 6.5, Amorim; 
12.4757, 6.5, Shotter; 
12.790, 6.2, Kanai; 
12.86, 6.6, Y. Sakurai, Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan; via S. Nakano); 
13.2465, 6.0, J. Ripero, Madrid, Spain; 
14.782, 5.4, Kanai; 
15.4722, 4.9, Shotter; 
15.851, 4.5, Kanai; 
16.2118, 4.2, W. Kriebel, Schierling/Walkenstetten, Germany; 
16.3229, 3.9, Amorim; 
16.4583, 3.7, M. Simonsen, Imlay City, MI; 
16.2188, 4.1, Ripero; 
16.231, 3.8, P. Schmeer, Bischmisheim, Germany; 

Notes: 
a. Initially announced in AAVSO Special Notice #33 (A. Henden) and Central 
Bureau Electronic Telegram 834, Daniel W. E. Green, ed. 

b. N. N. Samus, Institute of Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, reports that 
N Cen 07 has been given the name V1280 Sco. 

c. For more information, please see IAU Circulars 8803 and 8807, Daniel W. E. Green, ed. 

Congratulations to Yuji Nakamura and Yukio Sakurai on their latest 
discoveries! 

Many thanks for your efforts and your astronomical contributions. 

Good observing! 

Elizabeth O. Waagen 
Senior Technical Assistant 

SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO 

Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at: 

AAVSO

If you cannot access this URL, please contact us for submission details. 
You may also use our charge-free number (888-802-STAR = 888-802-7827) or 
our fax (617-354-0665) to report your observations.
 ...................................................................................................
 
Clear skies,
 
Terry Moseley


 














Last Revised: 2007 February 19th 



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