V382 Velorum

V382 Velorum

Location of V382 Velorum (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Vela
Right ascension 10h 44m 48.3978s
Declination −52° 25 31.1686
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.8 Max.
16.6 Min.
Characteristics
Variable type Nova
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: −11.885±0.083 mas/yr
Dec.: 2.690±0.079 mas/yr
Parallax (π)0.5599±0.0547 mas
Distance1800+243
−133
 pc
Other designations
Nova Vel 1999, AAVSO 1040-51, Gaia DR2 5354475121660180096
Database references
SIMBADdata

V382 Velorum, also known as Nova Velorum 1999, was a bright nova which occurred in 1999 in the southern constellation Vela. V382 Velorum reached a brightness of 2.6 magnitude, making it easily visible to the naked eye. It was discovered by Peter Williams of Heathcote, New South Wales, Australia at 09:30 UT on 22 May 1999. Later that same day it was discovered independently at 10:49 UT by Alan C. Gilmore at Mount John University Observatory in New Zealand.

In its quiescent state, V382 Velorum has a mean visual magnitude of 16.56. It is classified as a fast nova with a smooth light curve.

Like all novae, V382 Velorum is a binary system with two stars orbiting so close to each other that one star, the "donor" star, transfers matter to its companion star which is a white dwarf. The orbital period is 3.5 hours. The white dwarf in this system has a mass of 1.23M. V382 Velorum is a neon nova, a relatively rare type of nova with a O-Ne-Mg white dwarf, rather than the more common C-O white dwarf.

The stars forming V382 Velorum are surrounded by a small emission nebula about 10 arc seconds in diameter.