Three remarkable novae in M 31
Abstract
We present data on the three remarkable novae that flared up in M 31 in 1991 and 1992. One of them, which was invisible (B > 22m) on the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) map in 1953, had brightened to B ~ 20.5m by 1969 and remained constant for more than 20 years. Subsequently, it reached its maximum light B = 17.25m during the outburst in 1992. None of the novae in M 31 and in our Galaxy has exhibited such brightness variations. We confirm that the other two stars, Sh 34 and Sh 35, which flared up near the center of M 31 in 1991, belong to the rare type of the fastest but probably not the brightest novae.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998AstL...24..445S