Spectroscopic Confirmation of MASTER OT J004619.12+414436.0 as an Fe II Nova in M31
ATel #4683; A. W. Shafter (SDSU), K. Hornoch (Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic), R. Ciardullo (PSU), M. J. Darnley, M. F. Bode (Liverpool JMU)
on 27 Dec 2012; 21:37 UT
Credential Certification: Allen W. Shafter (aws@nova.sdsu.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report spectroscopic observations of MASTER OT J004619.12+414436.0 (also known as PNV J00461912+4144364, and tentatively identified as M31N 2012-12b), which was discovered independently by K. Nishiyama and F. Kabashima, and by Shumkov et al. (ATel #4680) on 2012 Dec. 26.486 UT (m=17) and Dec 25.585 UT (m=16.7), respectively. Subsequent photometry on Dec 26.960 UT shows the object still near maximum light at R = 16.7 +/- 0.04.
At our request, a spectrum (410–900 nm) was obtained by M. Shetrone with the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (+ Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph) on Dec. 27.16 UT (less than 2 days after discovery). The spectrum (see link below) reveals very narrow Balmer and Fe II emission features (FWHM Hα ~ 800 km/s), with P Cyg profiles, superimposed on a blue continuum. These observations confirm that MASTER OT J004619.12+414436.0 is a nova in M31 observed early in its outburst, and that it is a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class. We thank Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima for initially bringing this object to our attention. A.W.S. is grateful to the NSF for support through AST-1009566.
HET Spectra of Local Group Novae
