The Eruption of T Pyxidis

Affiliation(s): CAS

Session details: Posters, 2013-03-29 10:18:00

Abstract

In early April, 2011, the recurrent nova, T Pyxidis, unexpectedly went into outburst (the prediction was for 2052). Southern hemisphere observers were well placed to participate in a thorough observational campaign. 23 Australian and New Zealand observers submitted results to the database of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. Observational techniques included visual, CCD and DSLR photometry. Linnolt (Hawaii) alerted the world to the start of the main eruption. This was confirmed by visual observers, Alan Plummer, Peter Williams and Steve Kerr. Peter Nelson, Rolf Carstens and Margaret Streamer acquired time series photometry in multiple bands of the initial rise. The speed of the initial rise was 9mag/day, representing a uniformly expanding shell. T Pyx finally peaked around magnitude 6.5. The decline to Vmag 11 initially showed numerous small flare-ups before following a steadier decline after about 140 days back to quiescence. A brief interpretation of this rare event will be presented, based on a paper by Brad Schaeffer (Louisiana State University), with co-authors including Rod Stubbings, Alan Plummer, Steve Kerr, Peter Nelson, Tom Richards, Rolf Carstens and myself.