The Balmer Decrement of T Coronae Borealis from a Large and Heterogeneous Sample of Spectra

Volume 54 number 2 (2026)

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Kenneth Carrell

Angelo State University, 2601 W. Avenue N, San Angelo, TX 76909; kenneth.carrell@angelo.edu

Kennedi A. Walls

O’Fallon Township High School, O’Fallon, IL; kennedia.walls@gmail.com

Ronald Wilhelm

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; ron.wilhelm@uky.edu;

James R. Foster

Pinon Pines RoR Observatory, Frazier Park, CA

David Cejudo

Observatorio El Gallinero, El Berrueco, Spain

Abstract

The Balmer decrement is an important probe of the physical conditions of gas and dust. This measurement will be a critical tool to describe the reddening and attenuation before, during, and after the eruption of T CrB. We show that the Balmer decrement can be measured using equivalent widths from a large heterogeneous sample of spectra. Being able to extract meaningful science results from samples such as this will allow us to leverage the tremendous amount of data, effort, and time spent by observers all around the world who will document the eruption of T CrB in more detail than any other nova eruption in history.