Spectroscopic Identification of Nova in M81
ATel #3770; Y. Cao (Caltech), M. M. Kasliwal (OCIW/Princeton), S. Johnson (UChicago), D. York (UChicago), M. Strauss (Princeton), report on behalf of the Palomar Transient Factory collaboration
on 17 Nov 2011; 17:34 UT
Credential Certification: Yi Cao (smartcaoyi@gmail.com)
At UT 2011 Nov 15.52, we obtained a spectrum of
PNV J09553266+6906072 (ATEL#3735), also internally
designated as PTF11qij. We used the standard low
resolution setup of the Dual Imaging Spectrograph (DIS)
on the 3.5m telescope at Apache Point Observatory.
On UT Nov 16.51, we used the high resolution setup of DIS to get
another spectrum. We see H-alpha and H-beta emission
suggesting this is a classical nova. Curiously, the profile of both Balmer
lines is double-peaked. The peaks have velocities of roughly -400 km/s and
+800 km/s relative to M81. The overall width is ~2,000 km/s.
We note that the observed absolute magnitude
in R-band of -9.3 mag is on the bright end of classical novae.
We thank the director, Suzanne Hawley and
observing specialist, Jack Dembicky for facilitating this
target of opportunity observation.
