Recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a: Swift UVOT detection of the 2018 eruption
ATel #12182; M. Henze (SDSU), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), A. W. Shafter (SDSU), S. Kafka (AAVSO), M. Kato (Keio University), for a larger collaboration
on 7 Nov 2018; 12:32 UT
Credential Certification: Martin Henze (henze@ice.cat)
Subjects: Ultra-Violet, Nova, Transient
We report the UV detection of the 2018 eruption (ATels #12177, #12179, #12181) of the rapidly recurring nova M31N 2008-12a (Henze et al. 2014, 2015a, 2015b, 2018; Darnley et al. 2014, 2015, 2016) in data obtained with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory ultra-violet/optical telescope (UVOT).
The first UVOT snapshot of the 2018 eruption was obtained on 2018-11-06.94 UT which is a record reaction time of only 3.4 hours after the discovery on 2018-11-06.80 UT (ATel #12177). The nova was clearly detected in a 1-ks observation with a uvw2 filter (Vega) magnitude of 17.3±0.1 mag (uvw2 central wavelength 193 nm).
The magnitude estimate is preliminary, assumes the UVOT photometric system (Poole et al. 2008, Breeveld et al. 2011), and has not been corrected for extinction. Nothing is detected in the corresponding Swift XRT exposure. We will continue to monitor the UV and X-ray evolution of this exceptional nova.
We wish to thank the Swift Team for the extremely rapid and efficient scheduling of the ToO observations, in particular B. Cenko, the duty scientists, and the science planners.
