SALT spectroscopic observations of the LMC nova PNV J05145365-7009486
ATel #13288; E. Aydi (MSU), D. A. H. Buckley (SAAO), L. Chomiuk, A. Kawash (MSU), M. Orio (UoW, INAF), K. V. Sokolovsky, J. Strader (MSU), P. Woudt (UCT)
on 12 Nov 2019; 16:55 UT
Credential Certification: Elias Aydi (eaydi@saao.ac.za)
Subjects: Optical, Binary, Cataclysmic Variable, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 13289
We report on high-resolution optical spectroscopy of the transient PNV J05145365-7009486, which was discovered by the Brazilian Transient Search - BraTS - at SONEAR Observatory on 2019-11-11.22 UT and classified as a classical nova by F. M. Walter (ATel #13287).
On 2019-11-11.91 UT, we obtained a 1200 s spectrum using the High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS; Crause et al. 2014, Proc. SPIE, 91476) mounted on the 11m Southern African Large Telescope under the SALT Large Science Program on Transients. The observations were taken in the LR mode of HRS which covers the spectral range of 3800-8900 A at a resolution of R=14000. The data were reduced with the SALT HRS MIDAS pipeline (Kniazev et al. 2016, MNRAS 459, 3068).
The spectrum is dominated by broad emission lines of Balmer, He I, Na I, and N I. The FWHM of Halpha and Hbeta is around 4500 km/s. The lines are characterized by P Cygni absorptions with blueshifted velocities exceeding 3000 km/s. The Na D interstellar absorptions are characterized by two distinct components, one at 20 km/s and one at 250 km/s. The second component is consistent with the radial velocity of the LMC. The overall spectrum is that of a He/N, LMC nova in the post-maximum stage, consistent with the conclusions of ATel #13287.
Follow up observations are strongly encouraged in all bands.
