# V842 Centauri

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Nova in the constellation Centaurus seen in 1986

V842 Centauri Location of V842 Centauri (circled in red) Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 Constellation Centaurus Right ascension 14h 35m 52.568s[1] Declination −57° 37′ 35.39″[1] Apparent magnitude (V) 18.5 (pre-nova)[2] 4.6 (max during nova)[3] 16.5 (2010)[2] Characteristics Variable type nova[3] Astrometry Distance 4498+391 −254[4] ly (1379+120 −78[4] pc) Absolute magnitude (MV) −7.5 (max during nova)[3] Details Mass 0.88[5] M☉ Other designations Nova Centauri 1986, AAVSO 1428-57, Gaia DR2 5891405647833287296 Database references SIMBAD data

The [light curve](/source/Light_curve) of V842 Centauri, plotted from [AAVSO](/source/AAVSO) data

**V842 Centauri**, also known as **Nova Centauri 1986**, was a [nova](/source/Nova) which occurred in 1986 in the constellation [Centaurus](/source/Centaurus). It was discovered by [Robert H. McNaught](/source/Robert_H._McNaught) of [Siding Spring Observatory](/source/Siding_Spring_Observatory) in Australia, on 22 November 1986. At the time of its discovery, it had an [apparent magnitude](/source/Apparent_magnitude) of 5.6. It reached a peak magnitude of 4.6 one and a half days later, making it easily visible to the [naked eye](/source/Naked_eye).[6]

V842 Centauri is considered a moderately fast nova, having faded by 3 magnitudes after 48 days.[3] Near the end of 1986, and early in 1987, its light curve showed a sharp drop in brightness, caused by the formation of dust. This dramatic fading lasted only about 50 days, before the nova brightened by about 2.5 magnitudes.[7] By 2010, it had faded to magnitude 16.5, but was still 2 magnitudes brighter than before the nova eruption.[2]

From its shell's expansion velocity, it is estimated to be at a distance of 1.5 [kpc](/source/Parsec) (4900 light-years) from Earth.[8] Another method, based on the system's [extinction](/source/Extinction_(astronomy)) rate, gives a similar distance of 1.65 ± 0.54 kpc.[9] It was observed by the [Gaia spacecraft](/source/Gaia_(spacecraft)), which measured a distance of 1.38 (+0.120, -0.078) kpc.[4]

The mass of the white dwarf in V842 Centauri is estimated at 0.88 [solar masses](/source/Solar_mass). The system is likely seem from a low [inclination](/source/Inclination).[5] An expanding [nebula](/source/Nebula) has been detected around V842 Centauri, formed by material ejected during the nova. It has two components, with diameters of 3.6" and 10.6", corresponding to material with different densities and expansion velocities.[8]

A 2009 [photometric](/source/Photometry_(astronomy)) study of V842 Centauri found a possible 57 seconds period in the system's [light curve](/source/Light_curve), which was interpreted as the white dwarf's rotation period. An [orbital period](/source/Orbital_period) of 3.94 hours was calculated from variations of this period. V842 Centauri was then classified as an [intermediate polar](/source/Intermediate_polar), with the third fastest rotation period for a cataclismic system.[10] However, two later studies revealed problems with this classification.[5][2]

In 1995, observations with the 3.9 meter [Anglo-Australian Telescope](/source/Anglo-Australian_Telescope) detected a very small (~1.5 arc second diameter) [nova remnant](/source/Nova_remnant) shell surrounding V842 Centauri.[11] By March 1998 the shell had expanded to 5.6 × 6.0 arc seconds.[12]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gaia_DR2_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gaia_DR2_1-1) [Brown, A. G. A.](/source/Anthony_Brown_(scientist)); et al. ([Gaia collaboration](/source/Data_Processing_and_Analysis_Consortium)) (August 2018). ["*Gaia* Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties"](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201833051). *[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/source/Astronomy_%26_Astrophysics)*. **616**. A1. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1804.09365](https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.09365). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018A&A...616A...1G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018A&A...616A...1G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201833051](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201833051). [Gaia DR2 record for this source](https://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-S?Gaia%20DR2%205891405647833287296) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sion2010_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sion2010_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sion2010_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sion2010_2-3) Sion, Edward M.; Szkody, Paula; Mukadam, Anjum; Warner, Brian; et al. (August 2013). "Multiwavelength Photometry and *Hubble Space Telescope* Spectroscopy of the Old Nova V842 Centaurus". *The Astrophysical Journal*. **772** (2): 116. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1305.4564](https://arxiv.org/abs/1305.4564). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2013ApJ...772..116S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013ApJ...772..116S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0004-637X/772/2/116](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F772%2F2%2F116). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119202671](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119202671). Article 116.{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Whitelock1987_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Whitelock1987_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Whitelock1987_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Whitelock1987_3-3) Whitelock, P. A. (1987). "Nova Cen 1986". *Monthly Notes of the Astron. Soc. Southern Africa*. **46**: 72. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1987MNSSA..46...72W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987MNSSA..46...72W).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Schaefer2018_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Schaefer2018_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Schaefer2018_4-2) Schaefer, Bradley E. (2018). ["The distances to Novae as seen by Gaia"](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fsty2388). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **481** (3): 3033–3051. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1809.00180](https://arxiv.org/abs/1809.00180). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018MNRAS.481.3033S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018MNRAS.481.3033S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/sty2388](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fsty2388). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118925493](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118925493).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Luna2012_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Luna2012_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Luna2012_5-2) Luna, G. J. M.; Diaz, M. P.; Brickhouse, N. S.; Moraes, M. (June 2012). ["XMM-Newton EPIC and OM observation of Nova Centauri 1986 (V842 Cen)"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1745-3933.2012.01260.x). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters*. **423** (1): L75–L78. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1203.4804](https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.4804). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2012MNRAS.423L..75L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012MNRAS.423L..75L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1745-3933.2012.01260.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1745-3933.2012.01260.x). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [85526864](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:85526864).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-whit_6-0)** Whitelock, P.A. (January 1987). ["Nova Cen 1986"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987MNSSA..46...72W). *Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of South Africa*. **46**: 72. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1987MNSSA..46...72W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987MNSSA..46...72W). Retrieved 1 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-smit_7-0)** Smith, Craig H.; Aitken, David K.; Roche, Patrick F. (March 1994). ["The mid-infrared spectral development of nova CEN 1986"](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2F267.2.225). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **267** (2): 225–230. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1994MNRAS.267..225S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1994MNRAS.267..225S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/267.2.225](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2F267.2.225).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Tomov2015_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Tomov2015_8-1) Tomov, T.; Swierczynski, E.; Mikolajewski, M.; Ilkiewicz, K. (April 2015). "SALT observations of southern post-novae". *Astronomy & Astrophysics*. **576**: A119. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1502.03462](https://arxiv.org/abs/1502.03462). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015A&A...576A.119T](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A&A...576A.119T). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201424709](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201424709). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [54741051](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:54741051). A119.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Özdönmez2016_9-0)** Özdönmez, Aykut; Güver, Tolga; Cabrera-Lavers, Antonio; Ak, Tansel (September 2016). ["The distances of the Galactic novae"](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fstw1362). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **461** (2): 1177–1201. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1606.01907](https://arxiv.org/abs/1606.01907). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2016MNRAS.461.1177O](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016MNRAS.461.1177O). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/stw1362](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fstw1362). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118589678](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118589678).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Woudt2009_10-0)** Woudt, Patrick A.; Warner, Brian; Osborne, Julian; Page, Kim (June 2009). ["57-second oscillations in Nova Centauri 1986 (V842 Cen)"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2009.14668.x). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **395** (4): 2177–2182. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[0902.4826](https://arxiv.org/abs/0902.4826). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009MNRAS.395.2177W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009MNRAS.395.2177W). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14668.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2009.14668.x). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [18517574](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:18517574).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-gill_11-0)** Gill, C.D.; O'Brien, T.J. (October 1998). ["Deep optical imaging of nova remnants: a southern sky sample"](https://doi.org/10.1046%2Fj.1365-8711.1998.01899.x). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **300** (1): 221–232. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/9806076](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9806076). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1998MNRAS.300..221G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998MNRAS.300..221G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01899.x](https://doi.org/10.1046%2Fj.1365-8711.1998.01899.x).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-down_12-0)** Downes, Ronald A.; Duerbeck, Hilmar W. (2000). ["Optical Imaging of Nova Shells and the Maximum Magnitude-Rate of Decline Relationship"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000AJ....120.2007D). *The Astronomical Journal*. **120** (4): 2007–2037. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/0006458](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0006458). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2000AJ....120.2007D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000AJ....120.2007D). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/301551](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F301551). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119431018](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119431018). Retrieved 1 January 2021.

## External links

- [V842 Centauri](http://www.citebase.org/fulltext?format=application%2Fpdf&identifier=oai%3AarXiv.org%3Aastro-ph%2F0411198) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120214150910/http://www.citebase.org/fulltext?format=application%2Fpdf&identifier=oai:arXiv.org:astro-ph%2F0411198) 2012-02-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [V 842 Cen](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?protocol=html&Ident=V+842+Cen&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id)

- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050907140444/http://www.tsm.toyama.toyama.jp/curators/aroom/var/nova/1980.htm](https://web.archive.org/web/20050907140444/http://www.tsm.toyama.toyama.jp/curators/aroom/var/nova/1980.htm)

v t e Constellation of Centaurus List of stars in Centaurus Centaurus in Chinese astronomy Stars Bayer α A (Rigil Kentaurus) B (Toliman) C (Proxima Centauri) β (Hadar) γ δ ε ζ (Leepwal) η θ (Menkent) ι (Kulou) κ λ μ ν (Heng) ξ1 ξ2 ο1 ο2 π ρ σ τ υ1 υ2 φ χ ψ x1 x2 C3 D E F G H J K M N Q Flamsteed 1 (i) 2 (g) 3 (k) 4 (h) Variable R T V Y RR SV SX BV DY UY V346 V553 V744 V752 V761 (a) V763 (C1) V766 V779 (Krzemiński's star) V803 V810 V816 (Przybylski's Star) V831 V842 V885 V886 V863 V1032 V1369 V1400 V1935 HR 4460 (A) 4466 (C2) 4499 4522 4523 4537 (j) 4546 (B) 4721 4748 (u) 4796 4817 (l) 4831 (w) 4874 (p) 4888 (e) 4889 (n) 4940 (f) 4979 4989 5006 (r) 5041 (m) 5089 (d) 5174 (z) 5222 (y) 5224 5241 5297 5358 (v) 5371 5471 (b) 5485 (c1) 5489 (c2) HD 97413 98176 100453 101581 101930 102117 (Uklun) 103197 107914 108236 109749 110113 113538 113766 114386 114729 115600 116434 (Matza) 117207 117618 (Dofida) 117939 120411 121228 121504 124448 (Popper's Star) 125072 125595 131399 Other 2MASS J1126−5003 2M1207 Gaia BH2 HD 131399 Ab PSR B1259−63 PSR J1311−3430 TOI-763 WASP-15 (Nyamien) WASP-41 WASP-42 WASP-167/KELT-13 Exoplanets 2M1207b b Centauri b HD 101930 b HD 102117 b (Leklsullun) HD 103197 b HD 109749 b HD 113538 b c HD 114386 b HD 114729 b HD 117207 b HD 117618 b (Noifasui) HD 121504 b HIP 65426 b (Najsakopajk) HIP 67522 b NGTS-13b Proxima Centauri b c d WASP-15b (Asye) Star clusters NGC 3766 4230 4507 5281 5286 5316 5460 5617 5662 Other IC 2944 ω Centauri Scorpius–Centaurus association Stock 16 Nebulae NGC 3918 5307 Other Boomerang Nebula Fleming 1 G292.0+1.8 G306.3-0.9 Gum 41 IC 2944 IRAS 13208−6020 RCW 79 RCW 86 Southern Crab Nebula SuWt 2 Galaxies NGC 3557 3568 3749 3783 4444 4603 4622 4650A 4683 4696 4706 4709 4729 4730 4743 4744 4909 4930 4945 4976 5011 A 5026 5064 5082 5090 5091 5102 5114 5121 5128 (Centaurus A) 5161 5206 5253 5266 5291 5398 5408 5419 5483 5516 Other ESO 269-57 ESO 325-4 ESO 383-76 ESO 444-46 Fourcade-Figueroa Object IC 3370 IC 4214 IC 4329A IRAS 13224−3809 J1144−4308 LEDA 677373 PKS 1144−379 PKS 1353−341 PKS 1424−418 Galaxy clusters Abell S740 Centaurus Cluster Shapley Supercluster Astronomical events GW190521 SN 185 SN 1895B (Z) SN 1972E SN 1986G J1407b SN 2019so Category

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