Poster abstract details

The evolution of the nebula surrounding V458 Vulpeculae, a post double common-envelope nova

R. Wesson, M.J. Barlow, R.L.M. Corradi, J.E. Drew, P.J. Groot, C. Knigge, D. Steeghs, R. Napiwotzki, P. Rodriguez-Gil, A.A. Zijlstra

Abstract

The nova V458 Vulpeculae underwent an outburst in August 2007. Pre-explosion images revealed a nebula surrounding the nova; follow-up imaging and spectroscopy showed that this was a planetary nebula. The characteristics of the system suggest a combined mass exceeding the Chandrasekhar limit, making the system a potential Type Ia supernova progenitor. Since the outburst we have obtained images and spectra of the nebula on numerous occasions. Observing the progress of the ionisation front from the nova flash at several epochs allowed an accurate distance to be determined, and spectra reveal the rapidly changing physical conditions. Our observations included spatially-resolved spectra of a bright nebular knot obtained with X-Shooter on the VLT. We present our observations of the system over the almost four years since its outburst.