This nova was discovered on Wednesday at mag 10.3 by one of the prolific Japanese hunters and is now easily visible in binoculars, despite the strong moonlight. I would estimate mag 8.5 from this image taken at 8.50pm. It's at RA 04 29 and Dec +43 54, 8.5 degrees from Capella.



Finbarr.

Hi Finbarr, yes I have been following this also, it is classified as a classical nova, seems to be nearing it's peak. I wonder will it get much brighter?

Let's wait and see

Keith.

Latest report from Europe suggests it may have faded by a couple of tenths Keith. Might not be in a position to confirm that ourselves, as it looks mostly cloudy for us over the next few days.

Finbarr. 

Hi Finbarr, 

Very many thanks for bringing this to our attention, and congratulations on capturing!

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

Yeah, it would be cloudy alright, I haven't even had a look at this yet ;-( 

It's still at magnitude 8.6 in terms of brightness, although depending on the type of nova, it may actually rebrighten. Let's see...

AAVSO -- WebObs Search Results

Keith..

The fog did part magically and it seems the show is not over... I make it marginally brighter than the mag 8.4 star marked 'a' as at 2011 UT. Report on the AAVSO forum confirms same. Just 26 degrees from the full moon this time -



Finbarr.

I finally got a view of this nova this evening, I estimate it's brightness at magnitude 9.0

Keith..

How many novae have you observed, Keith?

I have only seen 2: Nova Delphini and Nova Persei.

However many congratulations on seeing this particular one!

Clear skies,

Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey, thanks for your question. I have obseved about 30-40 of them over the years, I can't exactly remember how many the years go by too fast

I love looking for them, it's my 'thing', particuarly the recurrent novae as the discovery of these is highly prized, I guess the attraction is having your name published alongside many of our greatest scientists through history and trying to find out what is going on with these novae, will they eventually become supernovae?

And it's healthy competion too, there are many observers around the world looking to add their name to a nova, in my opinion it is just as much an acheivement as the discovery of a comet. That sense of finding the prize might be just one night away ! There are many of us at the AAVSO community who do this, although Ireland's weather doesn't help !

I did come close to dicovering two events, both in 2006, one because of clouds, the second to confirm a microlensing event at magnitude 7 in cassiopeia

Hope it's clear tonight.......

Keith..

I just have had a quick peek at this nova this evening at 20:48, I estimate it’s brightness at magnitude 9.1

Keith..

Many thanks for the update Keith. It seems by all accounts it is dimming. Interested to read how it develops over the next few weeks. 

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

I was out again briefly under a poor transparent sky, I estimated it’s brightness at magnitude 9.4, AAVSO data confirms the same, I’ll still follow it all the same...

Keith..