SALT spectral classification of MASTER OT J074858.45-655344.6.5 as a likely Dwarf Nova in outburst
ATel #7165; D. A.H. Buckley, A. Kniazev, M. M. Kotze, S. Potter (SAAO), E. Gorbovskoy, V. Lipunov (SAI)
on 2 Mar 2015; 22:22 UT
Credential Certification: David Buckley (dibnob@saao.ac.za)
Subjects: Optical, Cataclysmic Variable
MASTER OT J074858.45-655344.6.5, which was discovered by MASTER SAAO on Jan. 15.045 UT (ATel #6927) as an unfiltered 16.9 magnitude transient, was observed with SALT RSS from Jan. 15.95 - 15.99 UT using the PG900 lines/mm grating. A 1200s exposure spectrum, covering 3600 - 6600 Angstroms at a resolution of 5.6 Angstroms with a 1.5 arcsec slit, was obtained in poor seeing (3.6 arcsec), but mostly clear conditions. The spectrum shows a rising blue continuum and strong H-alpha emission, with an E.W. = 16.6 ± 0.4 A and FWHM = 12.2 ± 0.3 A. The higher order Balmer lines show broad absorption lines with narrower absorption cores, with the H-beta peak rising above the continuum level. We interpret the spectrum to be that of a Dwarf Nova in decline from outburst.
