SALT spectroscopic classification of PNV J17545999-2122401 as a classical nova
ATel #14064; E. Aydi (MSU), D. A. H. Buckley (SAAO), L. Chomiuk (MSU), A. Kawash (MSU), Kwan-Lok Li (NTHU). M. Orio (UoW/INAF), K. V. Sokolovsky, J. Strader (MSU)
on 5 Oct 2020; 13:49 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Elias Aydi (eaydi@saao.ac.za)
Subjects: Optical, Binary, Cataclysmic Variable, Nova, Star, Transient, Variables
We report on high-resolution optical spectroscopy of the transient PNV J17545999-2122401, which was discovered by the Brazilian Transient Search - BraTS - at SONEAR Observatory, Oliveira, Brazil on 2020-10-02.97UT.
On 2020-10-04.75 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 as part of 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 shows P Cygni profiles of Balmer, O I, Fe II, and Na I. The absorption trough of the P Cygni profiles are at a velocity of around -700 km/s. The spectrum is that of a classical nova before or at optical peak. The large Equivalent Width of the Na D interstellar absorptions, which are saturated, indicates high extinction towards the nova.
Follow up observations in all bands are encouraged.
