V728 Scorpii

V728 Scorpii
Location of V728 Scorpii (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Scorpius
Right ascension 17h 39m 13.239s
Declination −45° 28′ 45.68″
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.0 - 21
Characteristics
Variable type Nova and eclipsing
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: −9.805 mas/yr
Dec.: −13.978 mas/yr
Parallax (π)0.4761±0.1257 mas
Distanceapprox. 7,000 ly
(approx. 2,100 pc)
Other designations
Nova Sco 1862, Gaia DR2 5949183467703297920, AAVSO 1731-45
Database references
SIMBADdata

V728 Scorpii, also known as Nova Scorpii 1862, was a nova that occurred in the constellation of Scorpius. It was discovered on 4 October 1862 by John Tebbutt, an astronomer living in New South Wales, Australia, while observing a comet. He reported that the star was in the constellation Ara. At the time of its discovery, the nova had an apparent magnitude of 5, making it visible to the unaided eye. Nine days later, it faded below 11th magnitude, indicating that it was a very fast nova.

Tappert et al. conducted an observing program from 2009 to 2011 to investigate nova candidates. Using photometric and spectroscopic observations, they identified the post-nova star corresponding to Nova Scorpii 1862. On 20 May 2009, the star had a visible-band magnitude of 18.5. They reported that the spectrum resembled that of a dwarf nova with a high orbital inclination, suggesting that it might be an eclipsing variable. Follow-up observations by the same team found that V728 Scorpii was indeed an eclipsing system. All novae are binary stars, in a very close orbit with a "donor" star transferring material to a white dwarf companion. The eclipses in this system appear to be eclipses of the accretion disk surrounding the white dwarf, rather than either star. The orbital period is 3.32 hours.