Interferometric observations of explosive variables: V838 Mon, Nova Aql 2005, and RS Oph

Benjamin F. Lane; Alon Retter; Joshua A. Eisner; Robert R. Thompson; Matthew W. Muterspaugh

doi:10.1117/12.674431

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28 June 2006 Interferometric observations of explosive variables: V838 Mon, Nova Aql 2005, and RS Oph

Benjamin F. Lane, Alon Retter, Joshua A. Eisner, Robert R. Thompson, Matthew W. Muterspaugh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry; 62681K (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.674431
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

During the last two years we have used the Palomar Testbed Interferometer to observe several explosive variable stars, including V838 Monocerotis, V1663 Aquilae and recently RS Ophiuchi. We observed V838 Monocerotis approximately 34 months after its eruption, and were able to resolve the ejecta. Observations of V1663 Aql were obtained starting 9 days after peak brightness and continued for 10 days. We were able to resolve the milliarcsecond-scale emission and follow the expansion of the nova photosphere. When combined with radial-velocity information, these observations can be used to infer the distance to the nova. Finally we have resolved the recurrent nova RS Oph and can draw some preliminary conclusions regarding the emission morphology.

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Benjamin F. Lane, Alon Retter, Joshua A. Eisner, Robert R. Thompson, and Matthew W. Muterspaugh "Interferometric observations of explosive variables: V838 Mon, Nova Aql 2005, and RS Oph", Proc. SPIE 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry, 62681K (28 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.674431

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