Electronic Telegram No. 1181
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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V459 VULPECULAE = NOVA VULPECULAE 2007 No. 2
     S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reports the discovery by Hiroshi Kaneda
(Sapporo, Japan) of an apparent nova (mag 8.7) on three 4-s unfiltered
CCD frames taken on Dec. 25.35 UT using a Nikon D40 digital camera (+
105-mm f/2.5 lens), reporting the position of the new star as R.A. =
19h48m08s.8, Decl. = +21o15'23" (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty +/- 15").
Nothing is visible within 20" of this position on the Digitized Sky
Survey, and nothing is visible at this position on Kaneda's patrol frames
taken on Oct. 2, 13, 25, Nov. 4, 9, 23, 29, Dec. 4, and 8 (limiting mag
10-11).  A frame taken on Dec. 25.357 by Kaneda yields mag 8.2, but the
discovery frames were apparently taken through thin clouds, so that any
real brightening is necessarily uncertain.  Nakano later wrote to say
that Akihiko Tago made an apparent independent discovery of this variable
star at mag 8.3 on his two patrol frames taken on Dec. 26.38 UT using a
Canon 20D digital camera (+ Pentax 105-mm f/3.2 lens), providing position
end figures 11s.5, 16'00"; Nakano has measured a jpeg image exposed
by Tago, yielding position end figures 08s.81, 15'29".9 and mag 7.8.
Nakano adds that the new object was confirmed by K. Itagaki (Yamagata,
Japan, 0.60-m f/5.7 reflector + unfiltered CCD) on Dec. 26.342, at position
end figures 08s.84, 15'27".6 and magnitude 7.1.  Additionally, Kaneda
reports position end figures 08s.89, 15'26".8 and mag 7.7 from a Dec.
26.355 exposure.  Kaneda and K. Kadota (Ageo, Japan) note that a
USNO-B1.0-catalogue star has position end figures 08s.871, 26".81 and mag
about 20.
     H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University, writes that (following posting on the
Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage), low-resolution spectroscopy
of this object was obtained by several Japanese observers, including K.
Ayani and N. Murakami, Bisei Astronomical Observatory, with the 1.01-m
telescope on Dec. 26.4 UT (range 400-800 nm, resolution R about 1200); K.
Kinugasa, Gunma Astronomical Observatory, with the 1.5-m telescope on Dec.
26.37 (R about 500); M. Fujii, Ibara, Okayama, Japan, with a 0.28-m
reflector on Dec. 26.39 UT; and H. Naito, Nishi-Harima Astronomical
Observatory, with the 2.0-m NAYUTA telescope on Dec. 26.4 (range 410-670 nm,
R about 1200).  The spectra show prominent Balmer lines and Fe II lines
with P-Cyg profile, which indicate that the object is indeed a classical
nova in the early phase, probably pre-maximum.  The H_alpha emission line
has the FWHM of 910 km/s, and the H_alpha absorption minimum is blueshifted
from the emission peak by 920 km/s.  The existense of interstellar Na D
lines suggest that it is affected considerable reddening.  Further
follow-up observation is highly encouraged.
     N. N. Samus and E. Kazarovets, Institute of Astronomy, Moscow, write
that this nova is being given the designation V459 Vul.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2007 CBAT
2007 December 26                 (CBET 1181)              Daniel W. E. Green