Spectroscopic classification of PNV J00424144+4117377 and PNV J00414889+4109148 as nova eruptions in M31
ATel #11845; M. Sitaram (University of Maryland), M. J. Darnley (LJMU)
on 13 Jul 2018; 12:29 UT
Credential Certification: Matt Darnley (M.J.Darnley@ljmu.ac.uk)
We obtained a spectrum of classical nova candidate PNV J00424144+4117377 (see ATel #11784) with the SPRAT spectrograph (resolution R~350; Piascik et al. 2014) on the 2-m Liverpool Telescope (Steele et al. 2004) on 2018 July 02.14 UT. A spectrum of PNV J00414889+4109148 (see CBAT TOCP and ATel #11807) was taken on 2018 July 07.18 UT.
Both spectra show strong Balmer emission lines (Hα to Hδ) and both also show the three emission lines from multiplet 42 of Fe II. The FWHM of the Hα emission line is ~1200 km/s for PNV J00424144+4117377 and ~1500 km/s for PNV J00414889+4109148.
PNV J00414889+4109148 also shows tentative evidence for the presence of Fe II (multiple 48, 49, and 74) emission lines, along with possibly O I (7773 Å).
We conclude that both PNV J00424144+4117377 and PNV J00414889+4109148 are classical nova eruptions in M31 and that they likely belong to the Fe II taxonomic class. Follow-up observations are, as always, encouraged.
This summer internship project is supported by the GROWTH project funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant No 1545949.
