The Naked-eye Optical Transient OT 120926
arXiv:1311.1697
Abstract
A previously unknown optical transient (OT 120926) has been observed in the constellation Bootes. The transient flared to magnitude 4.7, which is comparable to the visual magnitudes of the nearby stars Boo and Boo. Database searches do not yield an unambiguous identification of a quiescent counterpart of this transient but do identify several candidates. However, none of the candidate stellar counterparts have shown any credible evidence of previous variability in the All-Sky Automated Survey or the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey. A flare on the nearby high proper motion, probable M dwarf star LP 440-48 could have produced OT 120926, but the amplitude of the flare would be an unprecedented 11.3 magnitudes. The current record amplitude for such flares on M dwarfs is 9.5 magnitudes.
12 pages, 5 figures, PDF only. JAAVSO in press. For further discussion, see http://pathallresearch.blogspot.ca/2013/11/looking-for-counterpart-of-naked-eye.html