Nova Delphini 2013

[Rick]

Nova Delphini 2013

Using a small telescope to scan the skies on August 14, Japanese amateur astronomer Koichi Itagaki discovered a "new" star within the boundaries of the constellation Delphinus.

APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130816.html

[MarkS]

Apparently he was using a CCD on a small reflector scope and noticed a star that wasn't on the previous night's image:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/219631281.html

But I wonder what drew his attention to it? 

[Rick]

Sounds like he was doing Nova patrol work. I wonder how many pairs of images he's checked without finding anything?

(Here's a BAA Nova patrolling paper by Guy Hurst.)

[Rick]

[BAA-ebulletin 00757] Nova Delphini 2013
(c) 2013 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/

Nova Delphini 2013

A bright Nova has been discovered in the constellation of Delphinus.  The discovery was made by Koichi Itagaki, Yamagata Japan using an 18cm reflector and CCD. The Nova was confirmed on frames taken on August 14.750 UT using a 0.60-m f/5.7 reflector and unfiltered CCD after discovery at magnitude 6.3C. No star was visible on previous frames taken by the discoverer on 2013 August 13.565 UT to magnitude 13.0.  Nick James reports that inspection of his Perseid Meteor patrol frames taken on Aug 14.063UT show nothing visible at the reported position to magnitude 9.0C.

The position of the Nova is  20h 23m 30.68 +20 46 03.8 (2000.0)

Latest magnitude estimates reported to the AAVSO database reveal the Nova has increased in brightness to around magnitude +4.5 by Aug 16.5 UT, making it (at this time) the brightest Nova visible in the Northern sky since Nova Aql 1999 (V1494 Aql which peaked at magnitude +4.0) and a possible naked eye object to many observers.

A finder chart, images and spectrum details of the Nova can be found on the web pages of the Variable Star Section  www.britastro.org/vss/

Observers are asked to report their observations - both visual and CCD - to the relevant secretaries.  Contact details can be found on the VSS web page.

Written by Gary Poyner, sent by David Boyd on behalf of the Variable Star Section
2013 August 16

[Rick]

...and an EPOD: http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2013/08/bright-nova-in-delphinus.html

[Rick]

...and a spectrum in yesterday's APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130823.html