V1369 Centauri
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 54m 45.363s |
| Declination | −59° 09′ 04.17″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.3 (max) |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: -19.096 mas/yr Dec.: -8.004 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 3.6451±0.9686 mas |
| Distance | 274+99 −58 pc |
| Characteristics | |
| Variable type | Nova |
| Other designations | |
| Nova Centauri 2013, V1369 Cen, PNV J13544700-5909080, 2MASS J13544534-5909040, Gaia DR2 5870613848610810880[ | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
V1369 Centauri, also known as Nova Centauri 2013, was a bright nova in the constellation Centaurus that occurred in 2013. It was discovered on December 2, 2013 by amateur astronomer John Seach in Australia with a magnitude of 5.5. On December 14, 2013 it peaked at about magnitude 3.3, making it the brightest nova so far of this millennium.
Nova Centauri 2013 was observed emitting gamma-rays between 7–10 December 2013 by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The nova continued to brighten in gamma-rays and the peak coincided with the second optical maximum on 11 December 2013.
The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission detected X-ray emission from Nova Centauri 2013 on 18 and 25 February 2014 and 8 March 2014.
In July 2015 it was announced that lithium had been detected in material ejected from Nova Centauri 2013. This is the first time lithium has been detected in a nova system. The amount detected was less than a billionth of the mass of the Sun. This finding is significant because it supports a theory that the extra lithium found in Population I stars (compared to Population II stars) comes from novae.