Spectroscopic confirmation of the nova close to the core of M 31 (ATel #2234) and brightness estimates of the novae M31N 2009-08a and M31N 2009-08e

ATel #2240; S. Fabrika, O. Sholukhova, A. Valeev (Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia), K. Hornoch (Ondrejov Observatory, Czech Republic), W. Pietsch (MPE, Germany)
on 12 Oct 2009; 14:09 UT
Credential Certification: Wolfgang Pietsch (wnp@mpe.mpg.de)

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We obtained low resolution spectra of the optical nova candidate in M 31 (RA=00 42 45.76, Dec=+41 15 57.1, J2000) discovered by P. Podigachoski et al. (ATel #2234) on images, obtained on 2009 Oct 9.08 in H-alpha filter. The nova is very close (16" east and 12" south) to the core of M 31.

The spectrum of the candidate has been taken on 2009 Oct. 9.820 UT with the Russian 6-m telescope (BTA) equipped with the SCORPIO spectral camera. The spectral range 374-783 nm, resolution 1.25 nm. During the observations we measured the star brightness, 17.50 +/- 0.08 (R-band), 17.69 +/- 0.07 (V band) and 18.06 +/- 0.04 (B-band) on 2009 Oct. 9.806 UT.

The spectrum is that of a FeII group nova with hydrogen and many FeII emission lines. These lines as well as NaI D1,2 are narrow and show P Cyp absorption components. CaII H,K lines show only blue-shifted absorption components. The spectrum is contaminated with strong background of the core of M 31. Equivalent widths of H-beta and H-alpha lines are 3.6 and 13.5 nm, their widths (corrected for spectral resolution) are FWHM = 630 and 600 km/s, respectively. The full width at zero intensity in H-alpha is 1600 km/s. The heliocentric radial velocity of H-alpha, H-beta and FeII (501.8 nm) lines is -530 +/- 15 km/s. The blue-shifted absorption components have a velocity -1880 km/s in H-beta, -1180 km/s in FeII (492.3 nm), -1300 km/s in FeII (501.8 nm), and -1250 km/s in CaII K.

We have determined brightness of the novae M31N 2009-08a (ATEl#2147, 2208) and M31N 2009-08e (ATEl#2213) located in the same images. On 2009 Oct. 9.806 UT M31N 2009-08a had magnitudes of 19.2 +/- 0.15 (R-band), 20.1 +/- 0.15 (V-band), and19.91 +/- 0.10 (B-band); M31N 2009-08e had magnitudes of 18.9 +/- 0.11 (R-band), 19.7 +/- 0.12 (V-band), and 19.56 +/- 0.09 (B-band).

Spectrum of tne nova close to the core of M 31 (ATel #2234)