Confirmation and Spectroscopic Classification of the Recent M31 Nova Candidate, M31N 2010-10d
ATel #2987; A. W. Shafter (SDSU), R. Ciardullo (PSU), M. F. Bode, M. J. Darnley (Liverpool JMU, UK), K. A. Misselt (U. Arizona)
on 30 Oct 2010; 23:26 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
At our request a spectrum (410â910 nm) of the recent M31 nova candidate, M31N 2010-10d (CBET #2516), was obtained by John Caldwell on 2010 Oct. 30.31 UT (~1 day post discovery) with the Low-Resolution Spectrograph on the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The spectrum exhibits prominent Balmer and Fe II emission lines (FWHM Hα ~ 1100 km/s) flanked by weak P Cygni absorption features (Δ V ~ −1100 km/s) superimposed on a blue continuum. These observations establish that M31N 2010-10d is a nova, and a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class.
UPDATE: We can now confirm that an official designation of M33N 2010-10a has been assigned to the recent M33 nova we discussed in ATel #2982.
As always, we are grateful to K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima (Miyaki-Argenteus Observatory, Japan) for quickly bringing nova candidates 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.
