Spectroscopic classification of AT 2017ixr as a nova in M31
ATel #11162; S. C. Williams (Lancaster), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), G. Carey (Bromsgrove, UK)
on 13 Jan 2018; 07:25 UT
Credential Certification: Steven Williams (scw@astro.ljmu.ac.uk)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We obtained spectra of the transient AT 2017ixr (see TNS) with the SPRAT spectrograph (resolution R ~ 350; Piascik et al. 2014) on the 2-m Liverpool Telescope (LT; Steele et al. 2004) on 2017 Dec 27.90 and 2018 Jan 12.83 UT.
The first spectrum (2017 Dec 27) shows narrow Hα emission on a blue continuum. In the second spectrum (2018 Jan 12) significant evolution is seen. The Hα emission has strengthened with respect to the continuum, with Hβ and Hγ now also detected. The spectrum also shows a number of Fe II lines, including the 42, 48, 49 and 74 multiplets. These emission lines are narrow, with Hα FWHM < 1,000 km/s.
We also obtained photometry of AT 2017ixr with the IO:O CCD camera on the LT and measure it at V = 17.42 +/- 0.01 on 2017 Dec 27.91 and V = 18.65 +/- 0.02 on 2018 Jan 12.84 UT.
These observations confirm AT 2017ixr is a classical nova eruption in M31 and a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class.