Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a: spectroscopic confirmation of the 2019 eruption
ATel #13273; M. J. Darnley (LJMU), A. Oksanen (Hankasalmi Obs), M. Henze (SDSU), A. W. Shafter (SDSU), S. C. Williams (Turku), M. W. Healy (LJMU), F. J. Murphy-Glaysher (LJMU), C. L. Ransome (LJMU), S. Kafka (AAVSO), on behalf of the 12a Collaboration
on 6 Nov 2019; 20:37 UT
Credential Certification: Matt Darnley (M.J.Darnley@ljmu.ac.uk)
We report the spectroscopic confirmation of the 2019 eruption (ATel #13269) of the remarkable recurrent M31 nova M31N 2008-12a (see ATels #5607, #6527, #7964, #9848, #11116, #12177 for earlier detections as well as Darnley et al. 2014, 2015, 2016 and Henze et al. 2014, 2015a, 2015b, 2018, for comprehensive multi-wavelength studies of previous eruptions).
The first of a long series of 600s spectra was obtained by the SPRAT instrument on the Liverpool Telescope at 2019 Nov 06.83 UT. This spectrum displayed a blue continuum with very broad and faint Balmer series emission lines. This spectrum is consistent with early spectra of previous eruptions.
We also note, for interest, that the 2019 eruption was discovered a year (to the day) after the discovery of the 2018 eruption.
We will continue to monitor the nova light curve and strongly encourage additional follow-up observations. Our follow-up campaigns with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope have also been triggered.
