Spectroscopic Classification of PTF09gfq/M31N1997-11k/M31N2001-12b
ATel #2290; M. M. Kasliwal, R. Quimby, M. Shara, S. P. Tendulkar, S. R. Kulkarni, E. O. Ofek, P. Nugent, J. Bloom, D. Starr report on behalf of the PTF collaboration
on 11 Nov 2009; 01:10 UT
Credential Certification: Mansi Manoj Kasliwal (mansi@astro.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Cataclysmic Variable, Nova, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 9280
On UT 2009 Nov 9.82, Henze et al. reported the discovery of a transient in M31 that is spatially coincident with M31N 1997-11k and M31N2001-12b (ATEL#2286). The Palomar Transient Factory had also flagged this event for follow-up. We observed PTF09gfq with the Double Beam Spectrograph at the Palomar 200-inch telescope on Nov 8.35. The PTF light curve places this object at maximum light around Nov 3.2 and R~18.6. This spectrum shows prominent Balmer emission from H-alpha through H-delta. The emission peaks are blue-shifted by ~360 km/s which is consistent with M31. The Gaussian FWHM of the H-alpha line is ~1280 km/s. Also, H-beta, H-gamma and H-delta show P-Cygni profiles. This suggests that this event is a recurrent nova in M31.
