Nova Per 2020

I finally got a view of this nova this evening, I estimate it's brightness at magnitude 9.0

Keith..

How many novae have you observed, Keith?

I have only seen 2: Nova Delphini and Nova Persei.

However many congratulations on seeing this particular one!

Clear skies,

Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey, thanks for your question. I have obseved about 30-40 of them over the years, I can't exactly remember how many the years go by too fast

I love looking for them, it's my 'thing', particuarly the recurrent novae as the discovery of these is highly prized, I guess the attraction is having your name published alongside many of our greatest scientists through history and trying to find out what is going on with these novae, will they eventually become supernovae?

And it's healthy competion too, there are many observers around the world looking to add their name to a nova, in my opinion it is just as much an acheivement as the discovery of a comet. That sense of finding the prize might be just one night away ! There are many of us at the AAVSO community who do this, although Ireland's weather doesn't help !

I did come close to dicovering two events, both in 2006, one because of clouds, the second to confirm a microlensing event at magnitude 7 in cassiopeia

Hope it's clear tonight.......

Keith..

I just have had a quick peek at this nova this evening at 20:48, I estimate it’s brightness at magnitude 9.1

Keith..

Many thanks for the update Keith. It seems by all accounts it is dimming. Interested to read how it develops over the next few weeks. 

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

I was out again briefly under a poor transparent sky, I estimated it’s brightness at magnitude 9.4, AAVSO data confirms the same, I’ll still follow it all the same...

Keith..