Spectroscopy of Optical Transient in M82
ATel #1512; M. M. Kasliwal, S. B. Cenko (Caltech)
on 7 May 2008; 16:40 UT
Credential Certification: Mansi Manoj Kasliwal (mansi@astro.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 1522
We obtained a spectrum with the Double Beam Spectrograph on the Palomar Hale telescope on May 2.28 UT (2x1800s). Only one prominent emission line, H-alpha, is detected in the wavelength range 4500 - 9200
Ang. The gaussian FWHM is 40 Ang, corresponding to approx. 1800 km/s and the center of the line is consistent with the assumed distance to M82 (3.6 Mpc). This supports the hypothesis that this is a classical nova in M82. We also report that this transient has faded to g > 21 since May 1.25 UT.
