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Issue A&A
Volume 391, Number 2, August IV 2002
Page(s) L7 - L9
Section Letters
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20020985



A&A 391, L7-L9 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020985

Letter

Recurrent nova IM Normae

T. Kato1, H. Yamaoka2, W. Liller3 and B. Monard4

1  Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
2  Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 810-8560, Japan
3  Center for Nova Studies, Casilla 5022 Renaca, Viña del Mar, Chile
4  Bronberg Observatory, PO Box 11426, Tiegerpoort 0056, South Africa

(Received 26 March 2002 / Accepted 2 July 2002 )

Abstract
We detected the second historical outburst of the 1920 nova IM Nor. Accurate astrometry of the outbursting object revealed the true quiescent counterpart having a magnitude of R=17.0 mag and B=18.0 mag. We show that the quiescent counterpart shows a noticeable variation. From the comparison of light curves and spectroscopic signatures, we propose that IM Nor and CI Aql comprise a new class of recurrent novae bearing some characteristics similar to those of classical novae. We interpret that the noticeable quiescent variation can be a result of either high orbital inclination, or the presence of high/low states. If the second possibility is confirmed by future observations, IM Nor becomes the first recurrent nova showing state changes in quiescence. Such state changes may provide a missing link between recurrent novae and supersoft X-ray sources.


Key words: novae, cataclysmic variables -- stars: individual: IM Nor

Offprint request: T. Kato, tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp




© ESO 2002


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