Fermi-LAT Bright Gamma-ray Detection of Nova ASASSN-18fv
ATel #11546; P. Jean (IRAP, Toulouse), C. C. Cheung (NRL), R. Ojha (NASA/GSFC/UMBC), P. van Zyl (Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory), R. Angioni (MPIfR-Bonn), on behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
on 18 Apr 2018; 19:10 UT
Credential Certification: Teddy Cheung (Teddy.Cheung@nrl.navy.mil)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Nova, Transient
The Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of two instruments on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has observed bright gamma-ray emission from a source positionally consistent with the bright optical nova ASASSN-18fv (ATel #11454, #11456, #11460, #11467, #11508). Preliminary analysis indicates that over the past five days, the source was detected with 1-day (E >100 MeV) fluxes of 2 x 10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1 (photon index fixed at 2.2), and a peak of (3.6 +/- 0.3) x 10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1 (statistical uncertainties only) on April 14. Six HE photons (E >10 GeV) are positionally consistent with the source, with the highest-energy photon at 37 GeV.
We encourage multiwavelength observations. Because Fermi normally operates in an all-sky scanning mode, regular gamma-ray monitoring of this source will continue. In consideration of the ongoing activity of this source, we encourage multi-wavelength observations. For this source the Fermi LAT contact people are P. Jean (pjean at irap.omp.eu) and C.C. Cheung (Teddy.Cheung at nrl.navy.mil).
The Fermi LAT is a pair conversion telescope designed to cover the energy band from 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV. It is the product of an international collaboration between NASA and DOE in the U.S. and many scientific institutions across France, Italy, Japan and Sweden.
