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POSSIBLE NOVA OPH 1995 = BARNARD'S STAR
---------------------------------------
In a message to VSNET, Andrew Silber (silber@calypso.astro.washington.edu)
writes:
>On the evening of Sept 9, 1995 UT Erik Fierce of the University of
>Washington has discovered a possible nova in the constellation Ophiuchius.
>
> The coordinates of the object are:
> RA 17 57 48.6 DEC 4 41 03 (2000)
>
>This object has been confirmed by observations taken by Jeff Morgan on the
>evening of 10 Sept. On 10 Sept. UT the V magnitude of this object was
>approximately 8.9 and the B-V color was 1.69. At the position of this nova
>the Palomar plates show two very faint stars near the Palomar sky survey's
>limit of detection (approximately 20). It is also possible that this star
>could be a Mira variable with an unusually high maximum for its light
>curve.
Following this announcement, Osamu Ohshima (ohshima@bao.go.jp) writes:
> I took spectrograms of possible nova Oph ;
> RA 17 57 48.6 DEC 4 41 03 (2000)
> with CCD spectrograph + the BAO 1.0-m telescope Sept 12.41UT.
> The object has not Balmer P Cyg profiles but red continuum with TiO bands.
> The object may move from south, GSC425:184 = The Barnard Star !
> as Mr. Nakamura of Kuma-Kogen Observatory poits out.
>
> Thank you
>
> Osamu Ohshima
> Bisei Astronomical Observatory
I have checked various star catalogues for entries of Barnard's star and
found that it is included in the Hipparcos Input Catalogue (C. Turon
et al., 1992) under the designation HIC 87937. The following information
is taken from this catalogue.
Identifications: Barnard's Star = HIC 87937 = BD +04 3561A = GL 699 =
LHS 3343 = CCDM 17578+0441
Photometry: V = 9.540 (+/- 0.031); B-V = +1.570 (+/- 0.015)
The magnitude in the Hipparcos photometric system is 9.79 and there is
a note of possible variability of less than two magnitudes.
Spectral type: sdM4
Position: R.A. = 17h 57m 48s.515 ) equinox J2000.0,
Decl. = +04d 41' 35".83 ) epoch J2000.0
The estimated mean error in position is 0".18.
Annual proper motion: 15 mu_RA cos Decl = - 0".803 ) equinox
nu_Decl = +10".278 ) J2000.0
The estimated mean error in the annual proper motion is 0".025.
Radial velocity: 106.8 km/s in approach
Parallax: pi = 0".545 (+/- 0".03)
I find the following heliocentric coordinates for the time of observation
(epoch J1995.69, equinox J2000.0): R.A. = 17h 57m 48s.75; Decl. = +04d 40'
51".5, which is quite close to the reported position. The photometric and
spectroscopic observations also suit well for a red M4-type dwarf star, so
it appears certain that the possible nova is identical with Barnard's star.
Yours sincerely,
Bjorn H. Granslo
Astrophysical Institute
University of Oslo
(bgranslo@astro.uio.no)
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