Spectroscopic classification of AT2017fvz as a nova in NGC 6822
ATel #10630; S. C. Williams (Lancaster), M. J. Darnley (LJMU)
on 9 Aug 2017; 23:10 UT
Credential Certification: Steven Williams (scw@astro.ljmu.ac.uk)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We obtained a spectrum of classical nova candidate AT2017fvz (kait-17bm; see TNS) with the SPRAT spectrograph (resolution R ~ 350; Piascik et al. 2014) on the 2-m Liverpool Telescope (Steele et al. 2004) on 2017 Aug 9.90 UT.
The spectrum shows strong Balmer emission (Hα, Hβ, Hγ, Hδ). The lines are relatively broad, with FWHM of Hα measured at ~2200 km/s. We also detect Fe II emission lines including 4924, 5018 and 5169 Å and strong emission from O I 7774 Å, the latter of which appears to be double-peaked. In addition, the spectrum shows strong absorption from N II 5679 Å, with N II 5001 Å possibly blended with the Fe II 5018 Å line. The spectrum seems to show many similarities to that of the 2015 nova in IC 1613 shortly after peak (see Williams et al. 2017).
In conclusion, this spectrum confirms AT2017fvz is a classical nova in NGC 6822 (Barnard's Galaxy). Further follow-up of this nova is encouraged.
