V1370 Aquilae
A fast neon nova discovered in 1982 in Aquila.
V1370 Aquilae, also called Nova Aquilae 1982, is a nova that flared up in the constellation Aquila in 1982. Japanese astronomer Minoru Honda, based in Kurashiki, spotted it photographically at 20:30 UT on January 27, 1982. At that time, the Sun had shifted just enough away from Aquila for the nova to be visible in the pre-dawn sky. Its brightness at discovery was magnitude 6 to 7, which meant it could have been seen with the naked eye in very good conditions. A possible progenitor star, around magnitude 20, was found on Palomar Sky Survey plates. Spectra taken in February 1982 at the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory confirmed the object was a nova.
After its discovery, V1370 Aquilae dimmed quickly—it faded by three magnitudes in just 13 days, placing it in the “fast” nova category defined by Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. The light curve hit a local minimum 43 days after discovery, a dip of about one magnitude caused by dust. This feature led to its classification as a type D nova.
The eruption occurred one year before the IRAS satellite launched, and IRAS later detected the nova in its 12 and 25 micron bands. Ground-based near- and mid-infrared observations by Bode and colleagues suggested that either dust formed unusually early during the nova event, or it was already present before the 1982 outburst.
All novae are binary systems: a donor star orbits a white dwarf, transferring material to it. For V1370 Aquilae, Shara and colleagues used the outburst’s amplitude and fading rate to estimate the white dwarf’s mass at 1.13 solar masses. Their models indicate the white dwarf is accreting mass from the donor at a certain rate, and that it will erupt as a nova roughly every 4,000 years, after accreting a specific amount of material. V1370 Aquilae is a “neon nova”—a high-mass white dwarf that, during the eruption, ejects some of its own material along with the products of the thermonuclear runaway on its surface.
- Designation
- V1370 Aquilae
- Also known as
- Nova Aquilae 1982
- Constellation
- Aquila
- Discovery date
- 27 January 1982
- Discoverer
- Minoru Honda
- Discovery location
- Kurashiki, Japan
- Apparent magnitude at discovery
- 6–7
Lore & Background
V1370 Aquilae faded rapidly after its discovery, dimming by three magnitudes in 13 days, which classifies it as a 'fast' nova in the scheme of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. Its light curve passed through a local minimum 43 days after discovery, a 'dust dip' about 1 magnitude deep, resulting in a type D classification. The nova erupted one year before the launch of the IRAS satellite and was detected by that satellite in the 12 and 25 micron bands. Ground-based near and mid infrared observations by Bode et al. concluded that either dust formed at an unusually early time in the nova event, or it was already present before the 1982 eruption.
Reader's Guide
V1370 Aquilae is notable as a 'neon nova', a nova with a high mass white dwarf that ejects some of the white dwarf itself along with the products of the thermonuclear runaway on the surface during the event. Shara et al. estimated, based on the outburst amplitude and fading rate, that the white dwarf mass is 1.13 solar masses. Their models indicate the white dwarf is accreting mass from the donor star and will erupt as a nova every ~4000 years, after a specific amount of material has been accreted. The detection by IRAS and ground-based infrared observations provided evidence for early dust formation or pre-existing dust, adding to the understanding of dust production in nova systems. As a fast nova with a well-observed light curve and a dust dip, it contributes to the classification and evolutionary models of cataclysmic variable stars.
Did You Know?
- V1370 Aquilae was discovered photographically by Minoru Honda at 20:30 UT on 27 January 1982.
- It faded by three magnitudes in 13 days, making it a 'fast' nova.
- The light curve shows a dust dip about 1 magnitude deep 43 days after discovery.
- It is a neon nova, meaning the white dwarf ejects some of its own material during the eruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is V1370 Aquilae?
V1370 Aquilae is the permanent variable-star designation for a nova that erupted in the constellation Aquila in early 1982. It is classified as a fast neon nova and is more commonly referred to by fans as Nova Aquilae 1982.
Who discovered Nova Aquilae 1982 and under what circumstances?
Japanese astronomer Minoru Honda, based in Kurashiki, Japan, identified the nova photographically at 20:30 UT on January 27, 1982. The timing was fortunate because the Sun had just moved far enough from the Aquila region for the outburst to appear in the pre-dawn sky.
How bright was V1370 Aquilae at discovery, and was it visible to the naked eye?
At the moment of discovery the nova sat around magnitude 6 to 7, right at the threshold of naked-eye visibility under exceptionally dark conditions. A much fainter progenitor star of roughly magnitude 20 was later located on Palomar Sky Survey plates.
What type of nova is V1370 Aquilae and how was it studied?
It is classified as a fast neon nova, meaning its spectrum displayed prominent neon emission lines and it evolved relatively quickly. Spectral observations were carried out at the Asiago observatory in February 1982 to track its early post-outburst behavior.
Are V1370 Aquilae and Nova Aquilae 1982 two different objects?
No — the two names refer to the exact same stellar outburst. "V1370 Aquilae" is the permanent catalog designation assigned to the variable star, while "Nova Aquilae 1982" is the informal name given at the time of its 1982 eruption.
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