Was this a possible light Echo in 1968 ?

[Delphinus]

Hi all

I was reading Patrick Moores Sky at Night 3 (published in 1970 SBN 563 10145 8) the other night and found this on page 17 'An Exploding Star'

8th July 1967 a nova is seen in the constellation of Delphinus and was reported by Mr G E D Alcock. Pictures of this can be found in Burnhams Cellestial hand book. and I think I found the star in the planetarium software Stellarium HP102190.

Now...15th April 1968 while Nova Delphinus is still visible a second Nova was detected in Vulpecula also by Mr Alcock but a curious description is given by Patrick Moore in that the star was very red and faded quickly.

Of course this was a while back and I can not find the location of Nova Vulpecula which makes me think it might have been a light Echo.

There is no real point to this except a bit of fun but if the description in stellarium is correct then I think that Nova Delphinus could shine again and if it did then so too Nova Vulpecula

Of course I could be totally wrong...not the first or last time, but I would sooner be happy than right.

Any thoughts?

[markophoto]

There are several references and observations of novae in Vulpecula if you google for it, some far more recent than 1968.

It didn't take long for me to find those details, so have a look around if you haven't already.

Marko

[Delphinus]

Thank you

I will look again, it was more specifically this one that I was looking for but It is possible I missed it.

Just Looked again and found it. it seems it may have been in the 'coathanger'. it also seems like a good part of the sky to look for Nova.

[FraserClarke]

The 1967 Nova was HR Del wasn't it? Now seen as a rather impressive nebula (A Catalog and Atlas of Cataclysmic Variables ; image on the left on this page).

Coords for 1968 Nova Vul (No 1 -- note there were two nova in Vulpecula in 1968) was 19:45:57 +27:02:48 (B1950) -- according to Osborn 1968, IAUC 2067. I also found this from Herbig, 1968, IBVS, 272, 1: "At the position of Nova Vul 1968 before the outburst was a faint double star of separation 6", p.a. 115d, and m_pg approximately 16.5 and 18. Differential measurement of a new direct photograph of the field against a Crossley negative taken in 1935 indicates that the prenova was the brighter (northwestern) star of this pair."

[Delphinus]

Thank you

That is useful I am glad I asked as I have discovered more about this event than I hoped. I will def be looking at this part of the sky at my fisrt opportunity.