Nova Sco 2012

[Terry Bohlsen]

Another new Nova reported last night.
I took a spectra of it. It is very different to the previous nova I have taken spectra of.
http://users.northnet.com.au/~bohlsen/N ... i_2012.htm
Any suggestions about the identification of the absorption lines?
Cheers

Terry Bohlsen

[Bernard Heathcote]

The weather, for astronomy purposes, has been pretty useless in southern Australia for weeks but on 12 June it was clear enough to take some spectra. While I usually only use a 2400 grating with my Lhires III I did have a 150 grating installed for another project , making it nearly well equivalent to the LISA, so I also took the opportunity to grab a spectra of Nova Scorpii 2012. Unfortunately cloud cut my exposure time drastically, hence the poor S/N. No chance yet for a follow-up.

A comparison with Terry's spectra of the H alpha P Cyg shift and EW profiles, separated by four days, would appear to show that the wind expansion rate has slowed while the quantity and/or gas density has increased significantly.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Christian Buil]

A spectrum of this southern spectrum for France, taken the 20.8/06/2012 with LISA + C11:



Very similar to your 20/06 spectrum, Terry

Special page: http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/nova_sco2012/obs.htm

Christian B

[Terry Bohlsen]

Christian
They are certainly very similar. I superimposed them in Vspec and there is very little difference. This is impressive considering the difference in observing conditions and latitude.
Very good.
I will continue taking data every few days when the weather permits.
Cheers

Terry

[Francois Teyssier]

Nice spectra !
Terry's animation is very impressive.

Good luck on the next steps

François (under the clouds )

[Terry Bohlsen]

Data from last night (24/6/12) shows an increasing Ha line that has now developed an absortion line on the red side if the Ha line.
I have updated my animation with the new data and created a new one concentrating on the red end of the spectrum.

[Christian Buil]

Status of Nova Sco 2012 from Castanet obs.:



http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/nova_sco2012/obs.htm

Note an important difference with Terry spectra's : from France the telluric lines are very deep (the object is low on the horizon and the airmass is high).
But the nova spectrum aspect is very similar. Excellent.

Christian B