John Seach Discovers 6.0 Mag Nova in Sagittarius, NSW, Australia

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SUMMARY

John Seach discovered a nova in Sagittarius, NSW, Australia, with a magnitude of 6.0, visible in three images taken using a DSLR camera with a 50mm f/1.0 lens. The limiting magnitude for these images was 11.0, while no object was detected in earlier images taken on March 14.590 UT, which had a limiting magnitude of 10.5. As of March 20, 2015, the nova's brightness increased to approximately 5th magnitude, although urban light pollution in inner west Sydney limited visibility to around 3.5 - 4.0 magnitude. Seach successfully captured the nova using a 70mm lens at f/4, ISO 1000, and a 30-second exposure.

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nova in Sagittarius discovered by John Seach, Chatsworth Island, NSW, Australia. Magnitude 6.0 object visible on 3 images taken with DSLR and 50mm f/1.0 lens, limiting magnitude 11.0. No object visible on images taken with same instrument on March 14.590 UT, limiting magnitude 10.5. No bright variable star, or minor planet at location

As of March 20, 2015, the nova is around 5th magnitude
normally that would be naked eye visible, but due to my very bright, city lit sky, in inner west Sydney, Australia location, my limiting magnitude for NE is around 3.5 - 4.0
I picked it up easily this morning using camera at 70mm, f4, ISO1000 and 30 sec exposure

2015_03_20_3306-1sm annotated.JPG


just to get you into the region here's a screen dump from Stellarium ...
as you can see there is no corresponding star in the circle

Nova Sagittarius loc.JPG

cheers
Dave
 
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You need to get a small place in the countryside :-)
 
jedishrfu said:
You need to get a small place in the countryside :-)
no kidding ;) would be nice to get out of the "ratrace" , but here is where the work is. I live 5-6 minutes drive between home and work :)

early in Jan 2015 I found a place about an hours drive out of the city, NW of home
have used that for my comet and other deep space pics in my other threads

Dave
 
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