The Nova Rate in NGC 2403

TL;DR

This study conducted a multi-epoch H-alpha survey of NGC 2403, discovering nine nova candidates over 11 years, and estimated its nova rate to be approximately 2 per year, aligning with rates in similar galaxies.

Contribution

First measurement of the nova rate in NGC 2403 using multi-epoch H-alpha observations, providing a key data point for understanding nova populations in late-type spiral galaxies.

Findings

Nova rate of 2.0 (+0.5,-0.3) per year in NGC 2403

Luminosity-specific nova rate of 2.5+/-0.7 per year per 10^{10} solar luminosities in K

Rate consistent with similar galaxies like M33

Abstract

A multi-epoch H-alpha survey of the late-type spiral galaxy NGC 2403 has been completed in order to determine its nova rate. A total of 9 nova candidates were discovered in 48 nights of observation with two different telescopes over the period from February 2001 to April 2012. After making corrections for temporal coverage and spatial completeness, a nova rate of 2.0 (+0.5,-0.3) per year was determined. This rate corresponds to a luminosity-specific nova rate of 2.5+/-0.7 novae per year per 10^{10} solar luminosities in K. This value is consistent with that of the similar Hubble type galaxy, M33, and is typical of those of other galaxies with measured nova rates, which range from 1-3 novae per year per 10^{10} solar luminosities in K.