Possible Nova in Sagittarius (Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 3)

[starfinder]

I managed to image Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 3 again today (5 July 2012) from Singapore city.

The nova has definitely dimmed a lot since last week. It also seems to be getting redder, or perhaps the perception of that is due to its decreasing brightness.

Below is a compilation of images which I took on 28 June, 29 June and 5 July 2012. The reduction in the nova's brightness is apparent when comparing its brightness to that of the surrounding stars. I estimate it at about mag 12.0 today (5 July 2012 at 1349 UTC).

The data on the surrounding stars was taken from The Sky6 planetarium program.

http://i.picoodle.com/9e7j6f4w



The following is a link to the light curve of Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 3 at the website of the AAVSO (hope the link continues to be valid after today):
http://www.aavso.org/lcg/plot?auid=000- ... an=&vmean=
The latest estimates on the AAVSO website put it at about mag 12.5 as at 5 July 2012. That more or less corresponds with my estimate.

[jiahao1986]

WOW man you really did it! What a vivid demonstration on the declining brightness! Probably can try a GIF animation next~

[Gary]

Brilliant photographic documentation and annotation! Thanks for sharing.

[starfinder]

I have taken more images of Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 3.

Below is an updated mosaic showing the changes in the brightness of the nova between 28 June 2012 to 12 July 2012 (2 weeks).

As can be seen, the nova is now very dim at about mag 13 or higher. It has dropped in brightness very quickly! Going... going... and almost gone from view.

http://i.picoodle.com/0ffj6ner

[maguro77]

Hi Starfinder. Thanks for documenting the nova. My daughter and young nephews wanted to see a real life nova with their own eyes. But I couldnt find the time and when I did the clouds rolled in.... Thank goodness you had taken the photos so that they could at least 'see' it for themselves... I stand corrected but your photos were the only ones on the net that I could find that document visually the nova as it happens before our very eyes.

[starfinder]

Hi Maguro77,

Thanks, I'm glad the assemblage of images was useful! Yes, I have not found other photos of the nova on the internet showing its change in brightness.

As for viewing the novas (or novae) visually, my own experience with viewing individual stars from Singapore city is that a star would be just about barely visible in the eyepiece of an approx 8" size scope at about mag 11.5 and brighter. If it's at about mag 10 and under, it would be readily viewable (provided of course one knows exactly which one it is). If others have different/similar experiences, pls post about it. Would like to hear...

I believe there are now 3 active 'new' nova out there: Nova Scorpii 2012, Nova Sagittarii 2012 No.3, and Nova Sagittarii 2012 No.4. My earlier screenshot from a planetarium program of the Sagittarius-Scorpius region showing these 3 novae is here: viewtopic.php?p=77308#p77308

The current brightness estimates as recorded with the AAVSO are:
- Nova Scorpii 2012 : around mag 11.8
- Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 3 : around mag 13.7
- Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 4 : around mag 8.7
(See: http://www.aavso.org/ql or http://www.aavso.org/lcg ; The names of the nova to key-in would be "Nova Sco 2012", or "Nova Sgr 2012 No. 3", or "Nova Sgr 2012 No. 4")

For a finder chart, access the Variable Star Plotter at http://www.aavso.org/vsp ; The RA/Dec (J2000) celestial coordinates are displayed at the top of the respective charts.

From the above, I think Nova Sagittarii 2012 No. 4 (at mag 8.7) is still readily visible in the eyepiece these days.