Ancient Greek observations of T Coronae Borealis? Data and methodologies

The “new star” observed by Hipparchus in the 2nd century BC, as reported by Pliny the Elder, was probably not a comet and may have been the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis. Its varying periodicity means we cannot predict with any accuracy an eruption date during Hipparchus’s working life; but since we know of no other plausible report of a nova from the 2nd century, the possibility must be considered. Literary evidence confirms that Hipparchus observed Corona Borealis. In addition, evidence from the 3rd-century BC poet Callimachus may point to an observation of the star’s eruption some time before the catasterism of Coma Berenices by Conon of Samos.