A New Star Graces Our Skies: Witnessing v462 Lupi
Kia ora koutou!
It's an exciting time for stargazers, as a brand new star, officially designated v462 Lupi, has appeared in our night sky and is now bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Discovered on June 12th of this year, this celestial newcomer is a spectacular sight, and we're lucky to have a good view of it from here in New Zealand.
Last night, I managed to capture some data of this remarkable event. Hidden within the constellation Lupus, v462 Lupi has experienced a dramatic brightening. What was initially observed at an apparent visual magnitude of 8.7 has since surged to approximately 5.7, a significant jump that makes it accessible for unaided observation.
While the image might seem like a simple star to some, the fact that it's a newly born, brightened star makes it incredibly special. I'm thrilled to share this capture with you all!
For those interested in the technical details of how this image was captured, here's the equipment and processing breakdown:
- Data: 30 x 300 Light + Bias + Flats
- Mount: AM5N Mount
- Telescope: Askar 103 Apo Scope
- Guide Scope: Asi 120 mini on OAG
- Filter: Antlia RGB Ultra Filter
- Processing: Integrated and processed in Pixinsight
Further Reading
For those who want to delve deeper into the scientific details of v462 Lupi, you can find more information on its discovery and characteristics. The third annotation in the linked Wikipedia article provides fascinating insights, including a telegram announcing its discovery.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse of a truly novel addition to our cosmic neighborhood!
