Spectroscopic identification of ASASSN-15qd (= PNV J19215012+1509248) as a classical nova
ATel #8127; Hiroyuki Maehara (Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, NAOJ), Mitsugu Fujii (Fujii KurosakiObservatory), Akira Arai (Kyoto Sangyo University)
on 6 Oct 2015; 02:56 UT
Credential Certification: Hiroyuki Maehara (h.maehara@oao.nao.ac.jp)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report the spectroscopic identification of the optical transient
ASASSN-15qd as a classical nova. ASASSN-15qd was discovered by the
All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~assassin/index.shtml)
at V=15.2 mag on 2015-10-01.29 (Shappee et al. 2015, ATel #8126).
This object was also reported by K. Itagaki on 2015-10-05.5566 as
PNV J19215012+1509248 (http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J19215012+1509248.html).
We obtained a low resolution spectrum (400-900 nm; R=600 at H-alpha)
of this object on 2015-10-05.598 with the 40-cm telescope at Fujii
Kurosaki Observatory, Oakayama, Japan. The spectrum shows a strong
H-alpha emission line with a FWHM of ~1600 km/s. O I 7773, Ca II 8251
(and/or Mg II 8232), O I 8446 and Ca II 8498 lines are also seen in
emission. The spectrum is posted at the following web-site:
http://otobs.org/FBO/etc/asassn-15qd.png.
According to V- and Ic-band photometric data from the Kamogata-Kiso-Kyoto
Wide-field Survey (KWS; f.l.=105mm lens + SBIG ST-8XME CCD; 18"/pixel)
database, ASASSN-15qd was at Ic=10.2 mag on 2015-09-29.45. However
nothing is visible on the V-band images taken at the same time (limiting
mag V=13.1). This object was not detected on Ic-band archival images
taken from 2013-05-12.777 to 2015-09-21.452 (typical limiting mag about
Ic=12). The KWS light curve and photometric data can be seen at the
following web-site:
http://kws.cetus-net.org/~maehara/VSdata.py?object=192150%2B1509.4&resolver=&plot=1&obs_ys=2015&obs_ms=09&obs_ds=01&obs_ye=&obs_me=&obs_de=&submit=Send+query.
The spectroscopic features and the large V-Ic color index (~4.5 on
2015-09-29) suggest that the object is a highly reddened classical nova.
