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GOTO0650

·1 min

The dwarf nova GOTO065054+593624 marked the first major science result from Kilonova Seekers — discovered by volunteers on the project, and followed up by a huge contingent of citizen scientist observers from around the world. GOTO0650 was observed by

  • Nordic Optical Telescope
  • Liverpool Telescope
  • Las Cumbres Observatory 0.4 m network as part of Global Sky Partners
  • Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
  • Einstein Probe
  • AAVSO members

The paper provides an intensive study of the object, with highly complete light curves, spectroscopy, and X-ray data throughout the 2024 superoutburst. The dataset suggests the object is a WZ Sge-like dwarf nova, a subtype that shows diverse outburst behaviour and long recurrence timescales. GOTO0650 showed 10 “echo outburst” rebrightenings throughout the months it was active. GOTO0650 provides another well-observed example of the class and presents further opportunities for follow-up.

The study was accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics in May 2025, just 7 months after the object was first identified, with many citizen scientist co-authors.

Paper preprint

Thomas Killestein
Author
Thomas Killestein
I am a Prize Fellow at the University of Warwick, working on interacting supernovae, machine learning for the GOTO survey, and the Kilonova Seekers citizen science project