MSATT has obtained spectra of two novae in a week. These are eruptions from the accretion disk surrounding white dwarfs co-orbiting red giants. See this week’s Cloudy Night PDF on white dwarfs for more information. The first was V0462 Lupus, a classical dwarf nova. The second was V0572 Vela, at the time of writing an unclassified object due to its unusual spectrum. See MSATT’s Facebook page for more details on this evolving story.

The spectra are a first for MSATT and she’s now in a position to show students this phenomenon next time one erupts. Stay tuned!

Clear skies,
Geoff Mc