March 16, 2016
Event: Nova in Ophiuchus
Independent discovery by:
- Minoru Yamamoto (Okazaki, Aichi-ken, Japan, reported via H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University)
- Yuji Nakamura (Kameyama, Mie, Japan, reported via Yamaoka)
Discovery magnitude:
- Yamamoto: ~10.6 on four 15-second frames and using a Canon 5DMRK2 camera + 135-mm lens
- Nakamura: ~10.6 on a 30-second CCD image and using a 135-mm lens
Discovery date:
- Yamamoto: 2016 March 11.80-11.82 UT
- Nakamura: 2016 Mar. 11.832 UT
Coordinates (2000.0): R.A. 17 35 50.41 Dec. -29 34 23.8 (from VSX)
Spectra: Spectroscopy obtained by U. Sollecchia (central Italy) on Mar. 14.15 UT through clouds indicates the object as a nova (reported by U. Munari (Padova Observatory)). Munari notes that N Oph 2016 is highly reddened, reinforced by photometry he obtained with F.-J. Hambsch and A. Frigo (see notes below).
Observing recommendations: The nova is somewhat faint, but observations of all types (visual, CCD, DSLR, spectroscopy) as instrumentation permits are strongly encouraged as it evolves.
Charts: Charts for Nova Oph 2016 may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP). Be sure to include spaces in the name as shown.
Observations reported to the AAVSO:
2015 Mar. 24.65650, <16.0 R +/-0.1 (S. O'Connor, St. George, Bermuda);
2015 Jul. 09.61560, <15.0 I +/-0.1 (O'Connor);
2016 Feb. 10.837, <11.0 (Yamamoto, via IAUC 9280);
Mar. 1.849, <13.5 (Nakamura, via IAUC 9280);
7.817, <13.0 (T. Kojima, Tsumagoi, Gunma-ken, Japan, via IAUC 9280);
9.827, 12.6 (Kojima; pre-discovery, via IAUC 9280);
12.461, 10.99 V (S. Kiyota, Kamagaya, Japan; remotely with a 0.25-m astrograph at Mayhill, NM, USA, via IAUC 9280);
12.461, 8.38 Ic (Kiyota);
12.6808, 13.1 B +/-0.1 (O'Connor);
12.6840,10.88 V +/-0.11 (O'Connor);
12.6844, 9.35 R +/-0.05 (O'Connor);
12.6959, 10.94 V +/-0.03 (O'Connor);
12.791, 11.7 (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia);
13.3, 11.5 (A. Amorim, Florianapolis, Brazil);
13.40131, 10.996 V +/-0.004 (B. G. Harris, New Smyrna Beach, FL);
13.40165,13.486 B +/-0.015 (Harris);
13.7353, 13.74 B +/-0.06 (O'Connor);
13.831, 11.8 (Pearce);
14.7993, 14.26 B +/-0.07 (O'Connor);
14.8022, 11.63 V +/-0.02 (O'Connor);
15.27211, 14.432 B +/-0.020 (F.-J. Hambsch, Mol, Belgium, selected from 30 observations);
15.27565, 12.018 V +/-0.011 (Hambsch);
15.27679, 8.274 I +/-0.032 (Hambsch);
15.32007, 14.475 B +/-0.021 (Hambsch);
15.32362, 12.036 V +/-0.010 (Hambsch);
15.32476, 8.258 I +/-0.031 (Hambsch);
Submit observations: Please submit observations to the AAVSO International Database using the name V3661 OPH. Be sure to include spaces in name as shown.
Notes:
a. Announced in IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 4265 and IAU Circular 9280 (Daniel W. E. Green, ed. of both). Assigned the name PNV 17355050-2934240 when posted to the IAU CBAT Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP). Most of the information in this Alert Notice is taken from IAU Circular 9280.
b. Position end figures:
- T. Kojima (pre-discovery, measured by S. Nakano (Sumoto, Japan)), 2016 Mar. 9.827 UT, 50.56s, 19.0"
- M. Yamamoto (discovery), 2016 Mar. 11.80-11.82 UT, 50.5s, 24" (+/-5") (via Yamaoka).
- Y. Nakamura (discovery), 2016 Mar. 11.832 UT, 51.1s, 22" (via Yamaoka).
- S. Kiyota, 2016 Mar. 12.461 UT, 50.41s, 24.0".
- Y. Sakurai (Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan), 2016 Mar. 15.771 UT, 50.5s, 26" (via Nakano).
c. Photometry from U. Munari, F.-J. Hambsch, and A. Frigo:
2016 Mar. 12.400, 10.81 V, B-V = +2.42, V-I = +2.68; 13.328, 10.84 V, B-V +2.58, V-I +2.81; 14.326, 11.32 V, B-V +2.64, V-I +3.12.
d. E. Kazarovets and N. Samus report that Nova Oph 2016 has been given the permanent GCVS designation V3661 Oph.
Congratulations to Minoru Yamamoto and Yuji Nakamura on their latest discoveries!
This AAVSO Alert Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.
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