wpo - Nova Cyg 2001#2 = V2275 Cyg

VSNET-ALERT 6342  [2001 Aug 20] The discovery was made by Akihiko Tago, Okayama, Japan on his patrol films taken on 18.599 and 18.603 UT.  The information was relayed by A. Nakamira immediately to the CBAT(IAUC 7686).  Upon Nakamura's request, K. Ayani, Bisei Observatory, took a spectrum, which shows emission lines of H-alpha and beta, with pronouced P Cyg-profile.  This is very characteristic of a spectrun of a nova at premaximum stage (even if it is not in the earliest stage).  The nova has further risen to the 6-th magnitude object now, confirming the suggestion from spectroscopy.  The brightening of the nova was very rapid.  A. Nakamura further noted that the magnitude at thediscovery was determined using Tycho sequence, and is directly comparable to subsequent obseravation. Please report the object as CYGnova2001-2 in the VSNET .  The position is    21h 03m 02s.00  +48o 45' 52".9 (J2000.0 - by H. Abe)

VSNET-ALERT 6498 [2001 Aug 29] V2275 Cyg spectrum:  M. Fujii (Fujii Bisei Observatory)- spectrum of V2275 Cyg (Nova Cyg 2001-2) : Aug. 22.50 UT.  Balmer lines have become more intensive compared to the spectrum taken on 1st night (Ayani, Bisei Ob).  FWHM of the H-alpha line is 3100 km/s.   Based on the clear presence of Fe II multiplets, Fujii concluded that the nova is a typical "Fe II-type" nova.

Nova Scorpius'01  Nova Aquila'01  Nova 1917 = CI Aql   my main spectroscopy page
           VSNET  Nova Cyg01#2 webpage     The Astronomer VS webpage

2001 Sept 16: Revisit the Nova with comparison to Nova Sgr#3 2001.  Nova Cyg#2 2001 faded to mag 10.8v on Sept 1.8 [VSNET] and probably below this currently.

2001 Aug 24: Preliminary snap [partial field] of nova via Minolta D-Image 7 digicam [5.2 Mpixel] on manual setting - mid 1600 x1200 resolution; f/2.8; 200mm [equiv]; 800 ISO; 30s exposure; tracked on Meade LX200. Faintest stars on original image ~mag 10.5.
Full frame [1600 x 1200] JPEG Optimized as150K image.

2001 Aug 22:  Relative intensity of the background continuum decreasing as nova fades but the Balmer series - Ha and Hb - maintain their initial intensity with Hg and Hd emerging in blue.  Visual estimates of nova brightness probably now confined near green peak in the colour spectrum below.

2001 Aug 21: Spectra via the homebuilt WPO spectrograph of Ha and Hb emissions line show characteristic Doppler broadening [ie gaseous material moving both towards and away from the observer at explosive velocity] with the classic P Cygni absorption bluewards.  Comparison spectrum of sunlight ie static reflected daylight taken late in the afternoon. See Nova Aquila'99 [2] = V1494 Aql for evolution of emission lines over a short timescale.

2001 Aug 20: Yet another nova discovery in Cygnus on Saturday - Aug 18 - the second this summer with other novae discovered in Aquila and Scorpius!   My wide-angle shot [testing a gas-clock drive] some 36 hours prior to discovery shows no star brighter than ~ mag 8.5 in the nova's location.  The magnified partial image below copied via a slide copier coupled to CCD camera.

23.00UT: The long session concluded with a colour spectrum via the Starlight Xpress single-shot colour camera prior to discarding the electronics for an eyeball view through the 30cm SCT with the nova now at the zenith.  It appeared a beautiful bright golden hue much as Alfredo Pereira - Portugal described his discovery of Nova Aquilae'99 [2] = V1494 Aql in 1999 Dec 3.

20.30UT: At dusk the unfiltered starfield image below recorded - north up.  The nova is brilliant [compared to field]  and preliminary spectra are spectacular. Ha in emission but not exceptional so compared to the bright continuum at this early stage. Other lines also in emission.

text & images copyright - Maurice Gavin - WPO - 2001

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