Optical Spectroscopy of LMC Nova candidate 2012-03a
ATel #4002; J. L. Prieto (Princeton University)
on 27 Mar 2012; 02:42 UT
Credential Certification: Jose L. Prieto (jose@obs.carnegiescience.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
I report an optical spectrum (range 370-930nm) of the Nova candidate in the LMC (TCP J04550000-7027150) on UT March 27.0 using WFCCD mounted on the du Pont 2.5-m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. The spectrum shows strong and broad emission lines of the Balmer series,
as well as several N and He lines, making it a N/He nova. The FWHM of H-alpha + [N II] feature
is 5700 km/s. The emission lines also show P-Cygni absorption troughs with the minimum
at approx. -4700 km/s with respect to the rest wavelength of the lines. The
spectrum looks similar to the earliest spectrum of LMC 1990 No. 1
(Williams et al. 1991, ApJ, 376, 721), including a rising blue continuum below
~4000 Angstroms, but this Nova is likely younger given the presence of strong
P-Cygni absorption.
