ASASSN-15fd: A Possible Nova in the LMC

ATel #7313; K. Z. Stanek, A. B. Danilet, T. W.-S. Holoien, C. S. Kochanek, G. Simonian, U. Basu, N. Goss, J. F. Beacom, T. A. Thompson (Ohio State), B. J. Shappee (Hubble Fellow, Carnegie Observatories), J. L. Prieto (Diego Portales; MAS), D. Bersier (LJMU), J. Brimacombe (Coral Towers Observatory), Subo Dong (KIAA-PKU), E. Falco (CfA), P. R. Wozniak (LANL), D. Szczygiel, G. Pojmanski (Warsaw University Observatory)
on 30 Mar 2015; 16:45 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Krzysztof Stanek (stanek.32@osu.edu)

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ASASSN-15fd, announced in ATel #7260 (Danilet et al. 2015), continued to brighten, reaching V=11.5 on UT 2015-03-21.99, see the table below (data from the double 14-cm "Cassius" telescope in Cerro Tololo, Chile):

 
Object       RA (J2000)     DEC (J2000)      UT Date       V mag  
ASASSN-15fd  05:56:41.11   -75:09:38.00    2015-03-15.12    14.2  
                                           2015-03-17.99    13.1   
                                           2015-03-21.99    11.5  
                                           2015-03-27.11    12.2  
                                           2015-03-29.09    12.5 
                                           2015-03-30.08    12.6 

Given the light curve evolution of ASASSN-15fd, and it location towards the LMC, it might be a classical nova event in that galaxy. Spectroscopic follow-up is particularly encouraged.

We thank LCOGT and its staff for their continued support of ASAS-SN. ASAS-SN is supported in part by Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation. For more information about the ASAS-SN project, see the ASAS-SN Homepage and the list of all ASAS-SN transients.