Spectroscopic Observations of the Recent M33 Nova Candidate
ATel #2982; A. W. Shafter (SDSU), R. Ciardullo (PSU), M. F. Bode, M. J. Darnley (Liverpool JMU, UK), K. A. Misselt (U. Arizona)
on 29 Oct 2010; 05:31 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 2987
We report spectroscopic observations of the recent M33 nova candidate (M33N 2010-10a?), which was discovered by K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima (Miyaki-Argenteus Observatory, Japan) on 2010 Oct. 26.65 UT.
At our request a spectrum (410â950 nm) of the nova candidate was obtained by John Caldwell on 2010 Oct. 28.37 UT (~2 days post discovery) with the Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph on the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The spectrum reveals broad Balmer emission (FWHM Hα ~ 4800 km/s) along with weaker emission features of He I and Fe II superimposed on a flat continuum. These observations confirm that the object is indeed a nova. The presence of weak and broad Fe II emission argues that (technically) the nova belongs to the Fe IIb or "hybrid" spectroscopic class, although it is possible that most, if not all, He/N novae display some Fe II emission just after maximum light.
We are grateful to K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima for quickly bringing the nova candidate to our attention. A.W.S. thanks the NSF for support through AST-0607682 and the University of Victoria for hospitality during his sabbatical leave.
