V2949 OPHIUCHI = NOVA OPH 2015 No. 2 = TCP J17344775-2409042: an image ( 11 Oct. 2015 )
V2949 Oph = N OPH 2015 No. 2 = TCP J17344775-2409042: 11 Oct. 2015
On 11.4 Oct. 2015, K. Nishiyama (Kurume, Japan) and Fujio Kabashima (Miyaki, Japan) discovered a possible galactic nova in Ophiucus, temporarily named TCP J17344775-2409042. The nova nature was spectroscopically confirmed and the source was officially announced as V2949 OPHIUCHI = NOVA OPH 2015 No. 2 = TCP J17344775-2409042.
On Oct. 11.72 Oct., we remotely used the Virtual Telescope to confirm this object. The image above comes from the average of six, 30-seconds exposures, unfiltered, remotely collected with the PlaneWave 17″+Paramount ME+SBIG STL-6303E robotic unit part of the Virtual Telescope Project. Using shorter exposures, the nova was estimated at mag. 11.2 (R mags for the reference stars from UCAC-4). The source was only 18 deg above the south-western horizon, at sunset twilight.
It is interesting to see how star density varies across the field of view in the image, revealing the existence of dust clouds heavily obscuring that region; observations revealed a highly reddened nova.
Support The Virtual Telescope Project!
Support us! Please, donate and receive unique, LIMITED EDITION set of images of the stunning comet 12P/Pons-Brooks with Andromeda Galaxy, of potentially hazardous asteroids, space stations and much more, specifically made for supporters like you!
(you can adjust the amount later)
