Topic: Unprecedented Eruption Catches Astronomers By Surprise

[sam]

An alert was raised March 11 when Japanese amateur astronomers announced what might have been the discovery of a new 8th magnitude nova in the constellation of Cygnus. It was soon realized that this eruption was not what it appeared to be. It was actually the unexpected nova-like eruption of a known variable star, V407 Cygni. Typically varying between 12th and 14th magnitude, V407 Cyg is a rather mundane variable star. So what caused this well-behaved star to suddenly go ballistic?

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/21/unprecedented-eruption-catches-astronomers-by-surprise/

[Simon]

Great pic! 

[sam]

yeah as artists impressions go it aint bad.

I'm lecturing High Energy Astrophysics this week - filling in - and I'm going to be talking about the mechanism that drives this sort of explosion, Roche Lobe overflow and He flash burning. I could give you all my notes but something says you'll be bored after about a page of maths - the students are gonna love me 

[Clive]

   Cygnus is not well placed for observing at this time of year but at magnitide 8 the nova would be an easy binocular object if you knew exactly where to look!  On a clear night you can see the outline of the Milky Way running through this well defined summer constellation. 

[sam]

and if you go to a proper dark site then it won't be a problem to see the galaxy.