U Scorpii (U Sco) is a recurrent nova system; one of 10 known recurring novae in the Milky Way galaxy.[5] Located near the northern edge of the constellation Scorpius it normally has a magnitude of 18, but reaches a magnitude of about 8 during outbursts. Outbursts have been observed in 1863, 1906, 1936, 1979, 1987, 1999, 2010, and 2022.[6][7]
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Right ascension | 16h 22m 30.78s[1] |
| Declination | −17° 52′ 42.8″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 7.5 Max. 17.6 Min.[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | ? / White Dwarf |
| Variable type | Recurrent nova[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 65[3] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −0.380±0.202[4] mas/yr Dec.: −7.591±0.144[4] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | −0.0945[4] ± 0.1334[4] mas[4] |
| Distance | 19600+21000 −5300[2] pc |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
The 2010 outburst was predicted to occur April 2009 ± 1.0 year, based on observations during quiescence following the 1999 outburst.[8] The U Sco 2010 eruption faded by 1 magnitude in 1 day, and by 4 magnitudes in 6 days. By February 6 it was dimmer than magnitude 13. Between February 10–19, it was flickering around magnitude 14. The eruption ended on day 64, which is the fastest observed decline to quiescence of recurring nova. This eruption of U Sco is now the best-observed nova event with 22,000 magnitudes already accumulated. Astronomers then predicted that another eruption of U Sco would occur in 2020±2. This prediction was correct; it brightened to +7.8 magnitude on 6 June 2022.[9]
Originally identified in 1863 by English astronomer N.R. Pogson, U Scorpii was the third recurrent nova to be identified, in the years preceding World War II by Helen L. Thomas.[10][11]
References
External links
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
