CK Vulpeculae
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2016) |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vulpecula |
| Right ascension | 19h 47m 38.0s[1] |
| Declination | +27° 18′ 48″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | ~2.4 to ~6 while active[citation needed] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | ea[citation needed] |
| B−V color index | 0.7 |
| Variable type | Recurrent nova[citation needed] |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 1800[citation needed] ly |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | ~+10.4[citation needed] |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
CK Vulpeculae (also Nova Vulpeculae 1670) may be the oldest cataloged nova variable.[3] It consists of a central dim object with gas flowing out (~ 210 kilometres per second) into a bi-polar nebulous blob.[4] It is either inside of a cloud of cold (~ 15 K) dust or the cloud is in front of it from the Earth's perspective. Molecular gas in the vicinity is rich in nitrogen relative to oxygen.[5] Models suggest CK Vulpeculae may not be a classic nova; rather it may be classified as a Luminous red nova which is the result of two main sequence stars colliding and merging.[5]
Eruptive history
CK Vulpeculae was discovered by Voituret Anthelme in 1670. It had a brightness maximum of approximately magnitude 3 on June 20, 1670 after which it faded. A second maxima was observed March 1671, after which Johannes Hevelius and Giovanni Cassini observed it throughout spring and summer until it faded from naked-eye view in late August 1671. A last weakly visible brightness maxima of approximately 5.5 to 6 magnitude was observed by Hevelius in March 1672 and finally faded from view late May. Observers from 1670 to 1672 noted the nova had a reddish colour. John Flamsteed, who was elaborating his catalogue during these years, assigned the star the Flamsteed designation 11 Vulpeculae,[2] which has been noted later by Francis Baily as one of Flamsteed lost stars,[6] due to the fact that it has not been detectable for centuries until recovered in 1981.[7]
References
- ^ a b "NOVA Vul 1670". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2015-03-29.
- ^ a b Morton, Wagman (2003). Lost Stars. Blacksburg, Virginia: McDonald and Woodward. p. 494. ISBN 0-939923-78-5.
- ^ Shara, M.M.; Moffat, A.F.J.; Webbink, R.F. (July 1, 1985). "Unraveling the oldest and faintest recovered nova - CK Vulpeculae (1670)". Astrophysical Journal. 294: 271–285. Bibcode:1985ApJ...294..271S. doi:10.1086/163296.
- ^ Hajduk, M.; van Hoof, P.A.M.; Zijlstra, A.A. (December 23, 2013). "CK Vul: evolving nebula and three curious background stars". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 432 (1): 167–175. arXiv:1312.5846. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.432..167H. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt426.
- ^ a b Kaminski, Tomasz; Menten, Karl M.; Tylenda, Romuald; Hajduk, Marcin; Patel, Nimesh A.; Kraus, Alexander (March 23, 2015). "Nuclear ashes and outflow in the eruptive star Nova Vul 1670". Nature. 520: 322–4. arXiv:1503.06570. Bibcode:2015Natur.520..322K. doi:10.1038/nature14257. PMID 25799986.
- ^ Baily, Francis (1845). The Catalogue of Stars of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. London: Richard and John E Taylor. p. 77. ISBN 1165133253.
- ^ Shara, M.M.; Moffat, A.F.J. (July 1, 1982). "The recovery of CK Vulpeculae Nova 1670—the oldest 'old nova'". Astronomical Journal. 258 (Part 2 Letters to the Editor): L41–L44. Bibcode:1982ApJ...258L..41S. doi:10.1086/183826.
