Spectroscopy of the M31 Nova Candidate, M31N 2009-01a
ATel #1924; A. W. Shafter (SDSU), R. Ciardullo (PSU), M. F. Bode, M. J. Darnley (Liverpool J MU, UK), K. A. Misselt (U. Arizona), W. Pietsch (MPE)
on 4 Feb 2009; 15:41 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report spectroscopic observations
of the recent M31 nova candidate, M31N 2009-01a,
discovered by Koichi Nishiyama (Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan)
and Fujio Kabashima (Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan) at m = 18.5
(unfiltered) on 2009 Jan. 28.42 UT.
At our request, a spectrum (410â950 nm) of M31N 2009-01a
was obtained by J. Caldwell with the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope
(+ Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph)
approximately five days after discovery on 2009 Feb. 02.1 UT.
The spectrum reveals narrow Balmer (FWHM H&alpha ~ 650 km/s),
Fe II (&lambda 4924Ã
, &lambda 5018Ã
), and Ca II
(&lambda 8498Ã
, &lambda 8542Ã
, &lambda 8662Ã
)
emission features superimposed on a blue continuum.
The spectrum is consistent with that of a nova belonging
to the Fe II spectroscopic class. Finally, we note that
the narrowness of the lines and relatively faint magnitude at discovery
suggest that the object is likely to be a slow nova.
