V2275 Cygni = Nova Cyg 2001 No. 2 (RA = 21h03m02s.00, Dec = +48d45'52".9)

Photographically discovered by Akihiko Tago and K. Hatayama, Japan, independently on 8/19/2001 , this nova was the first one that I kept track of the magnitude for a while. For little over a month I would occasionally set up my 8"/f6 Dob out on the back porch in light polluted Squirrel Hill and aim it at Cygnus overhead. My first observation of the nova was made on 8/22 2:00 UT, when it was easily identified as a bright orange-red star at magnitude 8.0. Over time the nova faded, and the perceived color turned from orange-red to orange to grayish. For the last couple observations I have to switch from a 25mm eyepiece to a 9mm eyepiece to bring out the nova. I also discovered that the limit magnitude of my telescope on a typical Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh night is about mag. 13. The above graph shows my estimated magnitude for V2275 Cygni as it fades in time little over a month. Compare it with AAVSO's chart.