Spectroscopic confirmation of the M31 nova candidate, PNV J00435583+4121265
ATel #3833; A. W. Shafter, M. J. Darnley, M. F. Bode (Liverpool JMU, UK), R. Ciardullo (PSU)
on 29 Dec 2011; 19:39 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report spectroscopic observations of the recent M31 nova candidate, PNV J00435583+4121265 (M31N 2011-12b?), discovered by K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima on 2011 Dec. 27.448 UT at m = 17.4 (unfiltered). At our request, a spectrum (410–900 nm) was obtained by J. Caldwell less than two days post discovery on 2011 Dec. 29.18 UT with the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (+ Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph).
The spectrum reveals prominent Balmer and Fe II emission lines (FWHM Hα ~1100 km/s; EW Hα ~ -6.0 nm) with weak P Cyg profiles superimposed on a slightly blue continuum. These observations confirm that PNV J00435583+4121265 is a nova in M31, and that it is a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class.
We thank Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima for bringing this nova candidate to our attention. A.W.S. thanks the NSF for support through AST-1009566.
HET Spectra of Local Group Novae
