Galactic nova ASASSN-17hx likely at its peak: new images from 29 and 31 July 2017
We have been following galactic nova ASASSN-17hx quite intensively these days and we likely observed its maximum of light. Here they are our 29 and 31 July CCD images.
Galactic nova ASASSN-17hx in Scutum: 29 (up) and 31 (down) July 2017
Both the images in the composed panel above come for the average of five, 5-seconds exposures, unfiltered, remotely taken with “Elena” (PlaneWave 17″+Paramount ME+SBIG STL-6303E) robotic unit available at Virtual Telescope. The image scale is 1.2″/pixel. The object is marked with two red lines, in the center. Further details are on the image itself.
On 29 July, we’ve found ASASSN-17hx at mag. 7.9, while on July 31 it was at mag. 8.1 (unfiltered, R-mags for the reference stars from UCAC-4). Previous data (27 & 28 July) placed the source at mag. 8.0. Assuming these data, the object apparently just went through its maximum of light, still being very bright. It is worth to mention that the lightcurve depends on the wavelength. Visually, this nova should be at mag. 8.5 (check AAVSO for updates). We made available some useful star charts to find this nova, try to observe it while the bright Moon is not on the same spot of the sky. We will have a new look tonight.
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