On the Spatial Distribution and Occurence Rate of Galactic Classical Novae

Session 47 - Novae.
Display session, Tuesday, January 14
Metropolitan Ballroom,

[47.05] On the Spatial Distribution and Occurence Rate of Galactic Classical Novae

K. Hatano, D. Branch, A. Fisher (U. Oklahoma)

We have modified the model of the visibility of Galactic supernovae (Hatano et al, 188th AAS meeting) in order to predict the observability and spatial distribution of Galactic classical novae. Model predictions of the nova apparent magnitude distributions, and the distributions of novae on the sky, are in good agreement with the corresponding observed distributions. We conclude, contrary to some recent studies, that most classical novae come from the Galactic disk rather than from the bulge. The model, together with an estimate of Liller and Mayer (1987, PASP, 99, 606) for the rate of appearance of novae having V <11, gives a Galactic nova rate of 41 \pm 20 y^-1. Finally, we suggest how the uncertainties in the fraction of novae that come from the bulge, and in the nova rate, can be reduced.

Program listing for Tuesday