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OGLE-IV observations of VVV-WIT-05

ATel #8873; P. Mroz, A. Udalski (Warsaw University Observatory), on behalf of the OGLE team
on 26 Mar 2016; 08:23 UT
Credential Certification: Przemek Mroz (pmroz@astrouw.edu.pl)

Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient

Saito et al. (ATel #8869) reported the discovery of a large-amplitude transient VVV-WIT-05 located toward the Galactic center. The object is located in the field BLG676 that is monitored by the OGLE-IV Survey. Although the number of observations of this field collected in 2011 is small, we detected the transient in the image taken on 2011 May 21.17243 UT at I=14.76 mag. Its equatorial coordinates (R.A. = 17:43:05.21, Decl. = -28:27:39.3, J2000.0) are consistent with those reported by Saito et al. (ATel #8869) and there was no minor planet at this place.

The object is invisible in the earlier and later images of the field BLG676, meaning it was fainter than 21 mag (in the I-band). The eruption must have taken place between 2011 March 19 and May 21:

HJD Day I-band brightness
2455639.85412 2011 Mar 19.35412 >21
2455647.82383 2011 Mar 27.32383 >21
2455702.67243 2011 May 21.17243 14.76
2455784.67409 2011 Aug 11.17409 >21

It appears there is no temporal coincidence with the neutrino event from August 2011. The transient's brightness, despite high reddening (ATel #8869), is consistent with that of a classical nova.

Finding charts can be found here.