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A confirming spectrum for Nova in M31, TCP J00420310+4102331

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  • 19 October 2018 at 3:16 pm #574144
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    A spectrum of possible nova AT2108hld / TCP J00420310+4102331  in M31

    https://wis-tns.weizmann.ac.il/object/2018hld

    http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J00420310+4102331.html

    EDIT: fixed link

    At mag ~16.5 this was a very faint object using the standard ALPY 600 spectrograph. Although very noisy, even with 160 minutes total exposure time, the spectrum shows clear Balmer line emission at the expected radial velocity for this region of M31 and signs of P Cygni profiles in H alpha and beta, with an estimated velocity for the explosion of ~1700km/s.  The magnitude is also consistent with that of a typical classical nova at this distance (absolute magnitude ~ -8.5, ignoring any extinction)

    Cheers

    Robin

    Attachments:
    1. at2018hld_20181017_849_Leadbeater

      at2018hld_20181017_849_Leadbeater.png

    19 October 2018 at 4:29 pm #580072
    Andy Wilson
    Keymaster

    Robin, considering the difficulty of the target that is a fantastic spectrum!

    Cheers,

    Andy

    24 October 2018 at 1:54 pm #580082
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    Now confirmed as an Fe II nova by Wiliams et al  from a spectrum taken using the  Liverpool Telescope. 

    http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=12138

    (My spectrum taken a day earlier is also referenced there)

    Robin

    24 October 2018 at 2:23 pm #580083
    Dr Andrew Smith
    Participant

    Fine work Robin, well done.

    Regards Andrew

    25 October 2018 at 12:34 pm #580086
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    Thanks Andrew,Andy,

    I am starting to wonder if this might be an amateur first. Does anyone know of any other amateur extragalactic nova spectra ?

    Robin

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