V1369 Centauri

V1369 Centauri

Nova Centauri 2013 as seen with the naked-eye near La Silla Observatory[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
Right ascension 13h 54m 45.363s[2]
Declination −59° 09′ 04.17″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.3 (max)
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: -19.096[2] mas/yr
Dec.: -8.004[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)3.6451[2] ± 0.9686[2] mas
Distance274+99
−58[2] pc
Characteristics
Variable type Nova[3]
Other designations
Nova Centauri 2013, V1369 Cen, PNV J13544700-5909080, 2MASS J13544534-5909040, Gaia DR2 5870613848610810880[[4]
Database references
SIMBADdata
The light curve of V1369 Centauri plotted from AAVSO data

V1369 Centauri, also known as Nova Centauri 2013, was a bright nova in the constellation Centaurus that occurred in 2013. It was discovered on December 2, 2013 by amateur astronomer John Seach in Australia with a magnitude of 5.5.[5][6] On December 14, 2013 it peaked at about magnitude 3.3, making it the brightest nova so far of this millennium.[7]

Nova Centauri 2013 was observed emitting gamma-rays between 7–10 December 2013 by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.[8] The nova continued to brighten in gamma-rays and the peak coincided with the second optical maximum on 11 December 2013.[9]

The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission detected X-ray emission from Nova Centauri 2013 on 18 and 25 February 2014 and 8 March 2014.[10]

The location of V1369 Centauri (circled in red)

In July 2015 it was announced that lithium had been detected in material ejected from Nova Centauri 2013. This is the first time lithium has been detected in a nova system.[11] The amount detected was less than a billionth of the mass of the Sun.[11] This finding is significant because it supports a theory that the extra lithium found in Population I stars (compared to Population II stars) comes from novae.[11]

  1. ^ "Brand New Image of Nova Centauri 2013". ESO Picture of the Week. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference gaia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference aydi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Dickinson, David (2013-12-04). "A Naked Eye Nova Erupts in Centaurus". Universe Today. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  6. ^ "Alert Notice 492: Nova Centauri 2013 = PNV J13544700-5909080". American Association of Variable Star Observers. 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  7. ^ IAU Circ., 9266, 2 (2013). Edited by Green, D. W. E.
  8. ^ Astronomer's Telegram #5649
  9. ^ Astronomer's Telegram #5653
  10. ^ Astronomer's Telegram #5966
  11. ^ a b c "First Detection of Lithium from an Exploding Star". ESO. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.