Galactic Nova ASASSN-17hx is now an easy object: will brighten further? – 13 July 2017
In less than one month, the galactic nova ASASSN-17hx has increased its brightness of about 2 full magnitudes, being now accessible with small telescopes and binoculars. Below is a new image and an animation, showing this evident changes, as well a couple of star charts to find the nova.
Galactic nova ASASSN-17hx in Scutum: 13 July 2017
The image above is the average of five, 60-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.
Using shorter exposure images, to avoid saturation of the source, we measured a magnitude of 10.0 (unfiltered, R-mags for the reference stars from UCAC-4). Compared to our previous, 23 June observations, the nova ASASSN-17hx increased its brightness of 1.7 magnitudes. Visually, it should be about 0.5 mag. fainter (source: AAVSO), still an easy target, within the possibilities of very small telescopes/binoculars (60 mm or so in diameter).
Below in an animation showing how the transient increased its brightness from 23 June to 13 July.
Galactic nova ASASSN-17hx in Scutum: 23 June vs. 13 July 2017 – click for higher resolution
Those wishing to see this nova, can use the maps below: the first one shows the whole Scutum constellation, while the second one is a close-up (a couple of degrees wide), helping the identification at the telescope.
Location of ASASSN-17hx in Scutum
Location of ASASSN-17hx in Scutum: close-up
Of course, we plan to continue monitoring this nova, to see if it increases its brightness even further.
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