Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a: spectroscopic confirmation of the 2022 eruption
ATel #15788; M. J. Darnley (LJMU), M. W. Healy (LJMU), on behalf of the 12a collaboration
on 3 Dec 2022; 20:46 UT
Credential Certification: Matt Darnley (matt_darnley@icloud.com)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
ATel #15786 reported the discovery of the 2022 eruption of the one-year periodic recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a. Here, we report spectroscopic confirmation of the 2022 eruption.
The low-resolution SPRAT instrument on the Liverpool Telescope obtained a 3 × 600s spectrum of the nova at 2022-12-03.8363 (UT). This spectrum clearly shows Balmer series emission lines above a blue continuum. The FWHM of the Hα line is 4400 ± 400 km/s.
The spectrum is clearly that of a nova in eruption, close to peak, and is similar to spectra of previous eruptions.
Photometry obtained by the IO:O instrument on the Liverpool Telescope at around the same time confirms that the nova is close to peak: SDSS-R = 18.41 ± 0.01 and SDSS-I = 18.55 ± 0.04.
