Nova Mus 2018 (PNV J11261220-6531086) Is Forming Dust

ATel #11298; Frederick M Walter
on 14 Feb 2018; 16:16 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Fred Walter (frederick.walter@stonybrook.edu)

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Nova Mus 2018 (PNV J11261220-6531086) was discovered by R Kaufman on 2018 Jan 14.486, and reported by P. Schmeer in vsnet-alert 21772. The first detection was 2018 Jan 3.24 (ASAS-SN, reported in the TOCP). T.C. Bohlson reported that it is an Fe II nova (ATel #11183). It has not yet been detected at radio (Ryder et al., ATel #11212) or X-ray (Nelson et al., ATel #11220) wavelengths, but Li et al. have reported a possible γ-ray detection (ATel #11201).

I have been following the nova with the SMARTS Andicam dual channel photometer in the BVRIJHK bands since JD 2458136.81 (2018 Jan 17). Since then the nova has faded by about 2 mag to V=9.0 on JD 2458162.73, with little change in the optical colors. Between JD 2458155 and 2458157 (at the tender age of 33 - 35 days) the nova started producing dust. The K magnitude has decreased by 0.18 mag/day, from K~5.2 to 4.5, since JD 2458157. The brightness in the H band started to increase about 4 days after the K band, and the nova is flat at J. During that time the BVRI magnitudes have faded by about 0.07 mag/day. The B-V color is showing signs of increasing, possibly suggesting the start of a dust dip.

Plots and numbers are available in the Stony Brook/SMARTS Nova Atlas at http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/SMARTS/NovaAtlas/nmus2018/phot/nmus2018.phot.html

Observers interested in dust formation in novae are encouraged to obtain near-IR spectra. Photometry and high-resolution optical spectroscopy continues from SMARTS.

I thank B. Cruz For scheduling the observations. FMW's participation in the SMARTS partnership is supported by the NSF and by a generous grant from the office of the Provost of Stony Brook University.