Dust formation in the M31 nova AT2026aabo
ATel #18096; A. Evans (Keele University), D. P. K. Banerjee (Physical Research Laboratory, India), T. R. Geballe (NOIRlab/Gemini Observatory), C. E. Woodward (University of Minnesota), S. Starrfield (Arizona State University)
on 8 Oct 2026; 13:34 UT
Credential Certification: Dipankar P.K. Banerjee (dpkb12345@gmail.com)
Subjects: Infra-Red, Nova
The transient AT2026aabo in M31 was discovered on 2026 August 29 at 09:28:57 UT (ATel#18027),
and was spectroscopically confirmed as a nova in the FeII phase (ATel#18029).
It was found to have brightened in the J and H infrared bands on
2026-09-16 UT, suggesting an early phase of dust formation (ATel#18048).
We obtained a near-infrared (0.8-2.5 micron) spectrum of AT2026aabo on 2026 October 3 with the
GNIRS spectrograph on the 8m Gemini North telescope. The instrument was used in its cross-dispersed mode with the 32l/mm grating, a 0.675 arcsec slit (spectral resolving power ~800), and an exposure time of 3200s. Our data show the presence of a continuum that resembles a black body at ~1160K, confirming the early formation of dust in the ejecta. The only emission line present, very weakly, is OI 1.1287micron.
These data were obtained during Director's Discretionary Time for this program (GN-2026B-DD-104).
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