Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a: Liverpool Telescope spectroscopic confirmation of the 2017 eruption
ATel #11117; M. J. Darnley (LJMU), M. W. Healy (LJMU), M. Henze (SDSU), S. C. Williams (Lancaster)
on 31 Dec 2017; 22:23 UT
Credential Certification: Matt Darnley (M.J.Darnley@ljmu.ac.uk)
ATel #11116 reported the discovery of the 2017 eruption of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a (see Darnley et al. 2014, 2015, 2016 and Henze et al. 2014, 2015a, 2015b for full multi-wavelength descriptions of past eruptions).
The Liverpool Telescope (LT; Steele et al. 2004) obtained a 600s SPRAT (Piascik et al. 2014) spectrum of this eruption at Dec 31.88 UT.
This spectrum shows clear detection of Hα, Hβ, Hγ, and Hδ emission lines on top of the detected continuum. The spectrum is similar to the early time spectra obtained after the 2015 (Darnley et at. 2016) and 2016 eruptions (Henze et al. submitted). This spectrum confirms that this transient event is the 2017 eruption of M31N 2008-12a.
Follow-up observations at all wavelengths are strongly encouraged.
