Title: The nova V1369 Cen -- a short review Author: L. Izzo, M. Della Valle, F. Matteucci, D. Romano, L. Pasquini, L. Vanzi, A. Jordan, J. M. Fernandez, P. Bluhm, R. Brahm, N. Espinoza, R. Williams
We briefly present the spectroscopic evolution of the recent outburst of the classical nova V1369 Cen, and the presence of a narrow absorption line identified as due to the resonance of neutral lithium at 6708 \AA. We also discuss the consequences for the chemical evolution of lithium in the Galaxy.
The chemical element lithium has been found for the first time in material ejected by a nova. Observations of Nova Centauri 2013 made using telescopes at ESO's La Silla Observatory, and near Santiago in Chile, help to explain the mystery of why many young stars seem to have more of this chemical element than expected. This new finding fills in a long-missing piece in the puzzle representing our galaxy's chemical evolution, and is a big step forward for astronomers trying to understand the amounts of different chemical elements in stars in the Milky Way. Read more
Australian amateur astronomer John Seach who lives on Chatsworth Island, which is between Grafton and Lismore in northern NSW, has discovered a star explosion known as a nova near one of the pointers to the Southern Cross. At last report Nova Cen 2013 was bright enough to be visible to the unaided eye from a dark country site and may still be getting brighter. From light polluted cities binoculars will be needed to see the nova. Read more