Recurrent nova. Eruption discovered by M. Linnolt (Hawaii, United States)
at a visual magnitude of 13.0 on 2011 April 14.3. This is the first
outburst of T Pyx since December 7, 1966, nearly 45 years ago (IAUC 9205).
See also: AAVSO
T Pyx campaign.
Coordinates (2000.0) = RA : 9h04m41.5s - Dec :
-32°22'47.5".
Brief flash back:
This nova is located at 3300 light years already known in the past
several eruptions in 1890, 1902, 1920, 1944 and 1966. For 45 years she
remained very quiet and has since that time never exceeded 14m. Admitted
scenario is a white dwarf that accumulates around it matter that she
ripped a nearby solar-type star. The rash occurs when the thermonuclear
fusion "ablaze" matter accreted by the white dwarf.
The paper “Nova T Pyxidis” by R.M. Catchpole, (MNRAS,1969,
142,119-128) on the evaluation of the spectroscopy of the last T Pyx nova
event (1966/67) reported a 1390 km/s expansion rate ... pretty consistent
with the current event’s 1420 km/s. The paper’s concluding
paragraph is interesting:
“... observations of both its light curve and spectrum indicate
that previous outbursts probably followed a very similar course to this
one. T Pyx shows many similarities to a normal nova especially during its
later development. However, the sparseness of its absorption lines in its
early stages coupled with its higher excitation, a feature common to
other recurrent novae, shows that agreement is not complete. There is no
evidence, either from spectroscopy or from direct photography, for the
presence of a gas cloud surrounding the star as a result of previous
outbursts as was deduced in the case of RS Oph.”
It will be interesting to see if this nova event produces any significant
behavioural change and interpretation compared to the earlier ones. The
1967 event was relatively poorly observed and the spectroscopy was with
photographic plates, while this event can expect greatly improved
instrumentation being directed at it PLUS considerable
amateurcontributions.
Purpose and dedicated setup:
Follow all emission lines and lines shape modifications within time.
Observations setup:
Place: OVA (Observatoire du Val de l'Arc), Bouches du Rhône,
France.
Observation du 21.824/04/2011 :
