CK Vulpeculae

CK Vulpeculae

CK Vulpeculae taken by ALMA.[1]
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. P. S. Eyres
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Vulpecula
Right ascension 19h 47m 38.0s[2]
Declination +27° 18′ 48″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) max 2.6[2]
Characteristics
B−V color index 0.7[3]
Variable type unknown[3]
Astrometry
Distance10000+3000
−2000
[4] ly
(3200+900
−600
[4] pc)
Details
Luminosity0.9[3] L
Temperature14,000 – 100,000[3] K
Other designations
CK Vulpeculae, CK Vul, Nova Vul 1670, HR 7539, 11 Vul[5]
Database references
SIMBADdata

CK Vulpeculae (also Nova Vulpeculae 1670) is an object whose exact nature is unknown.[4] It was once considered to be the oldest reliably-documented nova. It consists of a compact central object surrounded by a bipolar nebula.

Models suggest CK Vulpeculae may not be a classic nova; rather it may be classified as a luminous red nova which is the result of two main sequence stars colliding and merging. A 2018 study found it was most likely the result of an unusual collision of a white dwarf and a brown dwarf. A 2020 article ruled out this proposed mechanism and proposes that CK Vulpeculae is an intermediate luminosity optical transient, i.e. an object in the luminosity gap between supernovae and novae.[4]

  1. ^ "Through the Hourglass". www.eso.org. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference downes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Evans2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference bane was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Morton, Wagman (2003). Lost Stars. Blacksburg, Virginia: McDonald and Woodward. p. 494. ISBN 978-0-939923-78-6.