Astrophoto: Nova Centauri 2013 Turns Pink

By Nancy Atkinson - December 27, 2013 at 11:14 AM UTC | Stars
Nova_Centauri_2013_LRGB_1400x1046-lowqual.jpg

A recent naked-eye visible nova that

erupted the first week in December 2013

is still showing its stuff, and this new "hot off the press" image from Rolf Wahl Olsen in New Zealand reveals its unusual color. "I managed to grab a close-up of Nova Centauri 2013 with my new 12.5" f/4 scope," Rolf said via email to Universe Today. "Curiously, I have only so far seen wide field images of this nova, and none that actually show it's very unusual strong pink colour."

Nova Centauri 2013 (in the Southern constellation of Centaurus) was discovered by John Seach from Australia on December 2, 2013, and it was visible at about magnitude 5.5. It subsequently brightened to reach a peak at magnitude 3.3.

Rolf's image was taken today (it's already Dec. 28, 2013 in New Zealand!) when the nova had faded to around magnitude 4.5. You can see a larger version

here

on Flickr or click the image above for a larger version on

Rolf's website.

Why is it pink?

"The nova appears pink because we are really viewing the light from an expanding shell of ionized hydrogen which emits strongly in both the red and blue part of the optical spectrum," Rolf explained. "These emissions give the nova its strong pinkish colour, similar to emission nebulae which are also predominantly pink/magenta in hue."

A nova is the result of a thermonuclear explosion on the surface of a white dwarf star in a tight binary system. The white dwarf accretes matter from its nearby companion and eventually the pressure from nuclear fusion blows off the accreted layers from the surface of the white dwarf. Contrary to a supernova where the star itself is blown apart and ceases to exist, a nova does not result in the destruction of the host star. The white dwarf may continue to accrete matter from its companion and the process may repeat itself sometime in the future.

Image details: Date: 28th Dec 2013 Exposure: LRGB: 17:7:6:6 mins, total 36 mins @ -25C Telescope: 12.5" f/4 Serrurier Truss Newtonian Camera: QSI 683wsg with Lodestar guider Filters: Astrodon LRGB E-Series Gen 2 Taken from Auckland, New Zealand

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com