RS Ophiuchi

Starbox begin
name = RS Ophiuchi A / BStarbox image


caption = Recurrent nova RS Ophiuchus in eruption of February 2006Starbox observe
epoch = J2000.0
constell = Ophiuchus
ra = RA|17|50|13.2
dec = DEC|−06|42|28
appmag_v = 9.6 - 13.5 (quiet), < 5 (burst)Starbox character
class = M2III / White Dwarf
b-v = ?
u-b = ?
variable = Recurrent novaStarbox astrometry
radial_v = ?
prop_mo_ra = ?
prop_mo_dec = ?
parallax = ?
p_error = ?
dist_ly = 1,950 &mdash; 5,200
dist_pc =
600Izumi Hachisu and Mariko Kato, "A Theoretical Light-Curve Model for the 1985 Outburst of RS Ophiuchi", "ApJ 536(2000)", p. L93; [http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?doi=10.1086/312736 Online abstract] ] &mdash; 1,600Mariko Kato, "Theoretical light curve for the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi - Determination of the white dwarf mass, composition, and distance", "ApJ 369(1991)", p. 471; [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1991ApJ...369..471K&amp;db_key=AST&amp;data_type=HTML&amp;format= Online abstract] ]
absmag_v = ?Starbox catalog
names = HD 162214

RS Ophiuchi ("RS Oph") is a nova approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus. In its quiet phase it has an apparent magnitude of about 12.5. It erupted in 1898, 1933, 1958, 1967, 1985, and 2006 and reached about magnitude 5. The recurrent nova is produced by a white dwarf star and a red giant. About every 20 years, enough material from the red giant builds up on the surface of the white dwarf to produce a thermonuclear explosion. The white dwarf orbits within the distended atmosphere of the red giant, with an accretion disc concentrating the atmosphere of the red giant onto the white dwarf.

Novae

1898

The 1898 eruption was, in fact, not discovered until several years after it happened. Williamina Fleming discovered a nova-like spectrum in the Henry Draper Memorial photographs and announced it as a potential nova in 1904. This diagnosis was affirmed by Edward Pickering in 1905, after which Annie Jump Cannon determined that RS Ophiuchi had likely reached maximum in 1898.

1933

The 1933 outburst was first detected by Eppe Loreta, from Bologna, Italy. Loreta had been observing Y Ophiuchi when he serendipitously noticed a bright object about 50 arcminutes southwest of Y Oph. The detection of this luminous star resulted in the second recorded outburst of RS Oph. An independent discovery of this activity was made several days later by Leslie Peltier (P) while making his routine check of the variable.

1958

The 1958 outburst was detected by Cyrus Fernald, located in Longwood, Florida. Fernald's monthly report for July 1958, containing 345 observations, displays a note in which he comments "Not too good of a month outside of the RS Oph observations (19 in total). It was interesting to watch the change in color as the star faded. It was reddish-yellow the first night, then yellowish-red, and so on. The last observation was the reddist star that I have ever seen." The crimson color of which Mr. Fernald speaks is indicative of the strong H-alpha emission displayed in the several days following the outburst.

1967

The 1967 outburst was again detected by Cyrus Fernald (FE), however, Fernald was not given credit for the earliest observation of maximum. For on the same evening, Dr. Max Beyer (BY), located in Hamburg, Germany, observed the variable at 6th magnitude. Due the 6-hour difference in time zones, Dr. Beyer was credited with the first report.

1985

In January 1985, Warren Morrison of Peterborough, Canada discovered RS Oph to again be in outburst.

2006

On February 12 2006 a new outburst occurred, reaching magnitude 4.5. The opportunity was taken to observe it at different wavelengths. [cite journal | first = MF | last = Bode | coauthors = O'Brien, TJ; Osborne, JP; Page, KL; Senziani, F; Skinner, GK; Starrfield, S; Ness, J-U; Drake, JJ; Schwarz, G; Beardmore, AP; Darnley, MJ; Eyres, SPS; Evans, A; Gehrels, N; Goad, MR; Jean, P; Krautter, J and Novara, G | year = 2006 | month =
title = "Swift" Observations of the 2006 Outburst of the Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi. I. Early X-Ray Emission from the Shocked Ejecta and Red Giant Wind | journal = The Astrophysical Journal | volume = 652 | issue = 1 | pages = 629–635 | doi = 10.1086/507980 | url =http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/507980 | accessdate = 2008-09-16
format =abstract] [cite journal | first = JD | last = Monnier | coauthors = Barry, RK; Traub, WA; Lane, BF; Akeson, RL; Ragland, S; Schuller, PA; Le Coroller, H; Berger, JP; Millan-Gabet, R; Pedretti, E; Schloerb, FP; Koresko, C; Carleton, NP; Lacasse, MG; Kern, P; Malbet, F; Perraut, K; Kuchner, MJ; and Muterspaugh, MW | year = 2006 | title = No Expanding Fireball: Resolving the Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi with Infrared Interferometry | journal = The Astrophysical Journal Letters | volume = 647 | issue = 2 | pages = L127–L130 | doi = 10.1086/507584 | url =http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/507584 | accessdate = 2008-09-16 ]

See also

* DM Lyrae

Notes

Further reading

*cite journal | last = Sokoloski | first = J. L. | coauthors = J. G. M. Luna, K. Mukai and Scott J. Kenyon | date = 20 July 2006 | title = An X-ray-emitting blast wave from the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi | journal = Nature | volume = 442 | pages = 276–278 | doi = 10.1038/nature04893 ( [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7100/abs/nature04893.html First paragraph] ; [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7100/edsumm/e060720-05.html Editor's summary] )
*cite journal | last = O'Brien | first = T. J. | coauthors = M. F. Bode, R. W. Porcas, T. W. B. Muxlow, S. P. S. Eyres, R. J. Beswick, S. T. Garrington, R. J. Davis and A. Evans | date = 20 July 2006 | title = An asymmetric shock wave in the 2006 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi | journal = Nature | volume = 442 | pages = 279–281 | doi = 10.1038/nature04949 ( [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7100/abs/nature04949.html First paragraph] ; [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7100/edsumm/e060720-05.html Editor's summary] )

External links

* [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/sim-id.pl?protocol=html&Ident=RS+Ophiuchi&NbIdent=1&Radius=10&Radius.unit=arcmin&CooFrame=FK5&CooEpoch=2000&CooEqui=2000&output.max=all&o.catall=on&output.mesdisp=N&Bibyear1=1983&Bibyear2=2006&Frame1=FK5&Frame2=FK4&Frame3=G&Equi1=2000.0&Equi2=1950.0&Equi3=2000.0&Epoch1=2000.0&Epoch2=1950.0&Epoch3=2000.0 SIMBAD: HD 162214 -- Symbiotic Star ]
* [http://www.aavso.org/publications/alerts/alert335.shtml AAVSO alert on 2006 eruption]
* [http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/variablestars/article_1678_1.asp Sky and Telescope: RS Ophiuchi in Rare Outburst]
* [http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/0500.shtml Variable Star Of The Month: RS Ophiuchi]
* [http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/news/rsoph-radio/ Jodrell Bank/MERLIN's first radio image of the blast wave and initial data]
* [http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060726.html Entry at] Astronomy Picture of the Day
* [http://www.aavso.org/vsx/index.php?view=detail.top&oid=20497 Entry in the] Variable Star Index
* [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Astronomers_See_Future_Supernova_Developing_999.html Astronomers See Future Supernova Developing] (SpaceDaily) July 25, 2006

In the news

*cite news|url=http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060406_star_star.html|last=Britt|first=Robert Roy|title=Star Explodes Inside Atmosphere of Another|publisher=Space.com|date=6 April 2006, 12:00 ET
*cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4885700.stm|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|title='Dead star' erupts for big show|publisher=BBC News|date=7 April 2006
*cite news|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Exploding_Star_Within_A_Star_Surprises_Astronomers.html|last=Berardelli|first=Phil|title=Exploding Star Within A Star Surprises Astronomers|publisher=Space Daily|date=10 April 2006
*cite news|url=http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060719_ophiuchi_nova.html|last=Than|first=Ker|title=Mystery of Explosive Star Solved|publisher=Space.com|date=19 July 2006, 13:00 ET
*cite news|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060720092733.htm|title=Nuclear Explosion On A Dead Star|publisher=Max-Planck-Gesellschaft "via" Science Daily|date=20 July 2006
*cite news|url=http://www.universetoday.com/2006/07/24/podcast-inevitable-supernova/|last=Cain|first=Fraser|title=Podcast: Inevitable Supernova|publisher=Universe Today|date=24 July, 2006