Spectroscopic Classification of M81N 2016-01b (PNV J09553757+6900146) as a Classical Nova
ATel #8678; S. C. Williams (Lancaster), M. J. Darnley (LJMU), R. J. Smith (LJMU)
on 11 Feb 2016; 15:37 UT
Credential Certification: Steven Williams (scw@astro.ljmu.ac.uk)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We obtained a spectrum of nova candidate M81N 2016-01b (PNV J09553757+6900146; ATels #8632, #8643 and #8650) with the SPRAT spectrograph (Piascik et al. 2014) on the 2m Liverpool Telescope (Steele et al. 2004) on 2016 February 11.03 UT.
The spectrum shows strong Hα and Hβ emission, with the FWHM of the Hα line measured to be ~2,300 km/s. Fe II multiplets 42 and 74 are also visible in emission. This spectrum confirms that M81N 2016-01b is a classical nova eruption in M81 and a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class. This is the first spectrum taken by the Liverpool Telescope of a nova outside of the Local Group.
