Binocular nova flares in Cygnus

A faint star in the Milky Way has exploded and become visible with binoculars in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan. The nova was first spotted on April 10 from Japan by on 10 April by observers Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima. They reported it at mag 7.7. Its position is RA: 19h43m01s.96, Dec: +32°19'13".8. This area of the sky is crowded with stars, but the map here should help you identify the nova. Albireo is the famous bright double star at the end of Cygnus's long neck. The position of the nova is marked with a circle. From mid-northern latitudes, such as in the UK, Europe and the USA, this region of the sky becomes observable after midnight. An alert to the nova, first reported in IAU Circular 8934, was published by Sky & Telescope here and will be updated as further information about the nova becomes available. ©PAUL SUTHERLAND, Skymania.com • Skymania welcomes your comments on our stories! For more space reading, check out the Skymania stores in the USA, the UK, Canada and France. They are powered by Amazon so you can buy with confidence.