Spectroscopic Classification of M31N 2016-05a (PNV J00423947+4121385) as a Classical Nova
ATel #9076; S. C. Williams (Lancaster), M. J. Darnley (LJMU)
on 24 May 2016; 12:24 UT
Credential Certification: Steven Williams (scw@astro.ljmu.ac.uk)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We obtained a spectrum of nova candidate M31N 2016-05a (PNV J00423947+4121385; ATel #9051) with the SPRAT spectrograph (Piascik et al. 2014) on the 2m Liverpool Telescope (Steele et al. 2004) on 2016 May 24.21 UT.
The spectrum shows strong Hα and Hβ emission, with the FWHM of the Hα line estimated to be ~1600 km/s. The Fe II 42 triplet and O I (7773 Å) are also seen in emission, with tentative detections of Na I (D) and the Fe II 74 multiplet. This spectrum confirms that M31N 2016-05a is a classical nova eruption in M31 and a member of the Fe II spectroscopic class.
