Swift detection of highly-absorbed X-ray emission from Nova Sagittarii 2020 No. 3 = PNV J17580848-3005376
ATel #13894; K. V. Sokolovsky, E. Aydi, L. Chomiuk, A. Kawash, J. Strader (MSU), K. Mukai (NASA/GSFC), K. L. Page (U Leicester)
on 24 Jul 2020; 22:00 UT
Credential Certification: Kirill Sokolovsky (kirx@scan.sai.msu.ru)
Subjects: Ultra-Violet, X-ray, Nova
Nova Sagittarii 2020 No. 3 (ATel #13872, #13877) was observed by
Swift for 1.7ks on 2020-07-22.875 UT, 6.356 days after
the discovery by S. Fujikawa on 2020-07-16.5194. Swift/XRT
detected an X-ray source with the net count rate of
0.034 +/-0.005 cts/s at the position of the nova
(17:58:08.46 -30:05:35.8 J2000 as reported by R. Fidrich and
R. J. Modic via TOCP). The X-ray spectrum is hard and can be
fit with the optically thin thermal emission model (APEC) with
kT > 10 keV and the absorbing column of (3.1 +/-1.8)x10^22 cm^-2,
well in excess of the Galactic value in this direction (suggesting
intrinsic absorption within the nova ejecta). The unabsorbed
0.3-10 keV flux is 5.5x10^-12 erg/cm^2/s. The nova is also
detected by Swift/UVOT at UVM2= 18.9 +/-0.2 (Vega system).
The UVOT image of the nova is within the halo of a nearby V=7.59
A type star HD 163555, resulting in additional uncertainty in UVOT
photometry and preventing accurate astrometry of the nova.
We thank the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory team and PI, Brad Cenko,
for scheduling this ToO observation.
CBAT Transient Object Followup Reports for PNV J17580848-3005376
