V1280 Scorpii
Encyclopedia
V1280 Scorpii is a nova
observed in February 2007 in the constellation Scorpius
, just south of M62
. The nova was a 9th magnitude
object when it was discovered independently by Yuji Nakamura and Yukio Sakurai from Japan
, around February 4, and peaked at magnitude 3.9 on February 17.
Announced by the IAU
in Electronic Telegram No. 835 and Circular No. 8803
Nova
A nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner...
observed in February 2007 in the constellation Scorpius
Scorpius
Scorpius, sometimes known as Scorpio, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for scorpion, and its symbol is . It lies between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east...
, just south of M62
Messier 62
Messier 62 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered in 1771 by Charles Messier.M62 is at a distance of about 22,500 light-years from Earth and measures some 100 light-years across....
. The nova was a 9th magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
object when it was discovered independently by Yuji Nakamura and Yukio Sakurai from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, around February 4, and peaked at magnitude 3.9 on February 17.
Announced by the IAU
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
in Electronic Telegram No. 835 and Circular No. 8803