Cataclysmic variables as possible counterparts of ancient Far Eastern guest stars

Abstract

Continuing our efforts to select possible classical nova candidates among Far Eastern guest stars and to identify them with modern cataclysmic variables (CVs), we present a search for counterparts in 24 promising areas of the sky corresponding to ancient observations between 204 BCE and 1690 CE. These areas have been derived by us in a previous paper. Based on physical entities of the CVs in our areas and reasonable magnitude limits compatible with the distribution of known eruption amplitudes of telescopic classical novae, we present a catalogue of a total of 80 CVs and related targets which could possibly have caused the historical sightings. This list could potentially be reduced by additionally discussing further information more vaguely given in the text. In some cases, we present a detailed discussion of the interpretation of ancient sources confronting them with properties of the brightest CVs in the field. In order to estimate whether this list is representative, we discuss the distribution of CV types in our catalogue of counterparts for the historical events. Compared to the entire sky, the surface density of most CV subtypes in our search fields reveals similar values, except for polars and intermediate polars, i. e. strongly magnetic CVs, for which a significant excess in our search fields was detected. Finally, we give an outlook towards future research in this topic, and add in an Appendix a complete atlas of the celestial maps of all 24 guest star events, displaying the search areas and locations of CVs within them.

12 pages, 29 figures (26 online only)

References in corpus (6)

• The Expansion Asymmetry and Age of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant
• When does an old nova become a dwarf nova? Kinematics and age of the nova shell of the dwarf nova AT Cnc
• X-ray orbital modulation of a white dwarf accreting from an L dwarf: The system SDSS J121209.31+013627.7
• On the absence of nova shells
• Which information can we derive from historical Far Eastern guest stars for modern research on novae and cataclysmic variables?
• A new approach to generate a catalogue of potential historical novae

Cited by in corpus (5)

• The Simulated Sky: Stellarium for Cultural Astronomy Research
• A Search for the modern counterparts of the Far Eastern guest stars 369 CE, 386 CE, and 393 CE
• Introducing the Condor Array Telescope: III. The expansion and age of the shell of the dwarf nova Z Camelopardalis, and detection of a second, larger shell
• Critical comments on publications by S. Hoffmann and N. Vogt on historical novae/supernovae and their candidates
• A Search for recurrent novae among Far Eastern guest stars