APOD: Nova Delphini 2013 (2013 Aug 16)

[Ann]

I have reviewed all the comments, still can't seem to find an definite hint of how long a typical nova such as this is supposed to stay extra-bright : days? weeks ? more ?

TIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova#Development wrote:
The time taken for a nova to decay by 2 or 3 magnitudes from maximum optical brightness is used to classify a nova via its speed class. A fast nova will typically take less than 25 days to decay by 2 magnitudes and a slow nova will take over 80 days.[3]

Please note that Nova Delphinus will be quite faint when it has decayed by two magnitudes. It remains to be seen if this process is going to take about 25 or about 80 days!

Ann

[neufer]

[b][color=#0000FF]Proving that Nova Delphini 2013 is now a bright, naked-eye object, this fun image shows not only the nova, but the surrounding landscape in Sweden of the photographer, too. Credit and copyright: Göran Strand.[/color][/b]

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[b][color=#0000FF]The bright new Nova Delphini 2013, as seen from Puerto Rico on August 16th, 03:13ut Credit: Efrain Morales/Jaicoa Observatory.[/color][/b]

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Update on the Bright Nova Delphini 2013;
by Nancy Atkinson on August 16, 2013

<<Since showing itself on August 14, 2013, a bright nova in the constellation Delphinus — now officially named Nova Delphini 2013 — has brightened even more. As of this writing, the nova is at magnitude 4.4 to 4.5, meaning that for the first time in years, there is a nova visible to the naked eye — if you have a dark enough sky. Even better, use binoculars or a telescope to see this “new star” in the sky.

The new nova is located in Delphinus alongside the familiar Summer Triangle outlined by Deneb, Vega and Altair. If you aren’t able to see the nova for yourself, there are a few online observing options:

The Virtual Star Party team, led by UT’s publisher Fraser Cain, will try to get a view during the next VSP, at Sunday night on Google+ — usually at this time of year, about 10 pm EDT/0200 UTC on Monday mornings.

The Virtual Telescope Project, based in Italy, will have an online observing session on August 19, 2013 at 20:00 UTC, and you can join astronomer Gianluca Masi at this link.

The Slooh online telescope had an observing session yesterday (which you can see here), and we’ll post an update if they plan any additional viewing sessions.

There’s no way to predict if the nova will remain bright for a few days more, and unfortunately the Moon is getting brighter and bigger in the sky (it will be full on August 20), so take the opportunity this weekend if you can to try and see the new nova.>>

[Galaxian]

Unfortunately since I am still learning how to take the photographs they are not as high quality as they could be.

If this is an example of you not at your best I *really* want to see what you do when you do better.
It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. It's a lovely image, thank you.
If you don't mind, I'm going to keep a copy for my collection of lovely astro-themed wallpapers that brighten up my machines.

[geckzilla]

I have cleaned up the supernova talk. I don't know why that even happened. If it happens again I am going to put giant, obnoxious text up to make sure people check their understanding that nova ≠ supernova.

[Anthony Barreiro]

I have reviewed all the comments, still can't seem to find an definite hint of how long a typical nova such as this is supposed to stay extra-bright : days? weeks ? more ?

TIA

Greetings Czernoo. I'm catching up on apod's after taking a few days off.

A fast nova will typically take less than 25 days to decay by 2 magnitudes and a slow nova will take over 80 days.[Reference:] Warner, Brian (1995). Cataclysmic Variable Stars. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-41231-5.

So I guess we'll have to wait and see on this one. By the way, Sky and Telescope has a great page for this nova, with daily updates, links to the AAVSO light curve, and a detailed sky chart to help you find it.

I've been enjoying watching this nova wax and wane, in spite of passing clouds and the bright Moon. A brand new nova! How exciting!

[Beyond]

A brand new nova! How exciting!

Yeah... but it's not really super.

[Chris Peterson]

A brand new nova! How exciting!

What other kind of nova could their be? If it weren't new, it would be a malnova.

[Anthony Barreiro]

A brand new nova! How exciting!

What other kind of nova could their be? If it weren't new, it would be a malnova.

It could be a recurrent nova.

[Chris Peterson]

A brand new nova! How exciting!

What other kind of nova could their be? If it weren't new, it would be a malnova.

It could be a recurrent nova.

An interesting question. If it's between outbursts, does it still qualify as a nova?

[geckzilla]

Whoever named novas didn't put that much forethought into it. You could propose novas be renamed to something long, mundane, and more correct. In case you succeed, I think Neil has room in his bunker which protects him from rabid Pluto fans.

[neufer]

Whoever named novas didn't put that much forethought into it.
You could propose novas be renamed to something long, mundane, and more correct.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

<<In Chinese astronomy, the term "guest star" (ke xing 客星) refers to a star which has suddenly appeared visible in a place where no star had previously been observed and becomes invisible again after some time. The term is a literal translation from ancient Chinese astronomical records. Modern astronomy recognizes that guest stars are manifestations of cataclysmic variable stars: novae and supernovae. Still, the term "guest star" is still used in the context of ancient records, since the exact classification of an astronomical event in question is based on interpretations of old records, rather than on direct observations. In ancient Chinese astronomy, guest stars were one of the three types of "new stars", the other two being comets in modern understanding.>>

[Anthony Barreiro]

An interesting question. If it's between outbursts, does it still qualify as a nova?

If it's been a long time since its last outburst, would it be an old nova?

[Chris Peterson]

An interesting question. If it's between outbursts, does it still qualify as a nova?

If it's been a long time since its last outburst, would it be an old nova? :doh:

Exactly. A malnova.

[Anthony Barreiro]

An interesting question. If it's between outbursts, does it still qualify as a nova?

If it's been a long time since its last outburst, would it be an old nova?

Exactly. A malnova.

Hmm, that word is not listed in my American Heritage Dictionary, and it doesn't appear in any of the dictionaries on dictionary.reference.com . There is a definition for an Esperanto word malnova on wiktionary.org , but I don't think of either Esperanto or wiktionary as being standard references for English usage.

[Beyond]

Anthony, you have to keep in mind that Chris lives w-a-y up in Abominable Snowman country, where the air is thinner, and he has access to strange (incredulous) words and stuff that go floating by, that we 'lower-dwellers' don't have any idea of, such as "malnova".