Optical Spectroscopy of SN 2009ip
ATel #4338; Ryan J. Foley, Edo Berger (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), Ian U. Roederer (Carnegie Observatories), and Laura Chomiuk (Michigan State University
on 27 Aug 2012; 04:26 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Ryan Foley (rfoley@cfa.harvard.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Star, Transient, Variables
It was recently reported (Drake et al., ATEL #4334) that SN 2009ip, an LBV with a ZAMS of >60 M_sun (Smith et al., 2010, AJ, 139, 1451; Foley et al., 2011, ApJ, 732, 32), is currently undergoing a new outburst. We obtained a high-resolution optical spectrum of SN 2009ip with MIKE mounted on the Magellan/Clay 6.5-m telescope on 2012 August 26.14 UT. The spectrum is remarkably similar to those of SN 2009ip during its previous outburst, being dominated by hydrogen Balmer and He I lines. Fitting a single Lorentzian profile to the H alpha line, we find it to have a FHWM of 640 km/s, similar to what was found during the the previous outburst (780 km/s; Foley et al., 2011, ApJ, 732, 32).
