[vsnet-chat 590] Re: Nova Confirmations

[Taichi Kato <tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>]

Stan Walker wrote:

> Rather than attempt spectroscopic measures why not get a UBV confirmation
> of the object? Comparison of the B-V and U-B colours will almost always
> confirm that the object is a CV and this is probably easier to arrange than
> spectroscopy. A half metre telescope will get acceptable CV colours at V =
> 14 in about 5 minutes, including reductions, and at fainter magnitudes
> there are probably not a great number of observational possibilities in a
> nova discovery. 

   Interestingly, Nova Sgr 1996 was measured photoelectrically by Gilmore
and Kilmartin soon after its discovery was reported (one can easily trace
this back in the IAUC issues), and they already remarked the UV excess,
suggesting a nova.  Nevertheless, this finding was not issued until the first
spectroscopic confirmation was made in early August.  This seems to indicate
the CBAT staffs did not (at least at that time) regard the UV excess of
a new 'eruptive' object as a signature of an unusual object worth notifying
the astronomical community.

Regards,
Taichi Kato

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