Spectroscopic confirmation and photometry of the nova candidate M31N 2016-12e
ATel #9942; S. Fabrika, O. Sholukhova, A. Vinokurov, A. F. Valeev, A. Sarkisyan, (SAO RAS), K. Hornoch (Ondrejov), M. Henze (CSIC-IEEC), A. W. Shafter (SDSU)
on 5 Jan 2017; 11:54 UT
Credential Certification: Sergei Fabrika (fabrika@sao.ru)
Subjects: Optical, Nova, Transient
We report optical spectroscopic confirmation of the recent M31 nova candidate M31N 2016-12e (= AT2016jbx) (= MASTER OT J004131.52+410714.2), announced in ATel #9912. The spectral data were obtained on 2016 Jan. 2.83 UT using the Russian BTA telescope equipped with the SCORPIO spectrograph. The spectrum was taken with a resolution of 5.3 Å in the 4050 - 5810 Å range.
Photometry of the nova obtained shortly before to the BTA spectrum with the same device gave B = 19.8 ± 0.1, V = 19.1 ± 0.1, Rc = 18.4 ± 0.1.
The nova shows Balmer emission lines, He II lines (4686 and possibly 5412 Å), numerous He I lines, along with N III 4638 Å. The hydrogen H-beta line has a velocity of -390 km/sec and a width FWHM = 740 km/sec. The same FWHM we observe in He II 4686 Å line. The widths were corrected for spectral resolution. We have clearly detected faint Fe II lines of multiplets 42 and 49. However, given the strong Helium lines and the weakness of the Fe II emission, we conclude that this M31 nova likely belongs to the He/N class. That said, we note that the narrow line width is unusual for an He/N nova, and it may be more accurate to describe the nova as a member of the narrow-lined He/N class (He/Nn, see Shafter et al., ApJ, 734, 12, 2011), similar to M31N 2015-02b (ATel #7158).
