M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION

M. J. Darnley; M. Henze; M. F. Bode; I. Hachisu; M. Hernanz; K. Hornoch; R. Hounsell; M. Kato; J. U. Ness; J. P. Osborne; K. L. Page; V. A.R.M. Ribeiro; P. Rodríguez-Gil; A. W. Shafter; M. M. Shara; I. A. Steele; S. C. Williams; A. Arai; I. Arcavi; E. A. Barsukova; P. Boumis; T. Chen; S. Fabrika; J. Figueira; X. Gao; N. Gehrels; P. Godon; V. P. Goranskij; D. J. Harman; D. H. Hartmann; G. Hosseinzadeh; J. Chuck Horst; K. Itagaki; J. José; F. Kabashima; A. Kaur; N. Kawai; J. A. Kennea; S. Kiyota; H. Kučáková; K. M. Lau; H. Maehara; H. Naito; K. Nakajima; K. Nishiyama; T. J. O'Brien; R. Quimby; G. Sala; Y. Sano; E. M. Sion; A. F. Valeev; F. Watanabe; M. Watanabe; B. F. Williams; Z. Xu

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION

M. J. Darnley, M. Henze, M. F. Bode, I. Hachisu, M. Hernanz, K. Hornoch, R. Hounsell, M. Kato, J. U. Ness, J. P. Osborne, K. L. Page, V. A.R.M. Ribeiro, P. Rodríguez-Gil, A. W. Shafter, M. M. Shara, I. A. Steele, S. C. Williams, A. Arai, I. Arcavi, E. A. BarsukovaP. Boumis, T. Chen, S. Fabrika, J. Figueira, X. Gao, N. Gehrels, P. Godon, V. P. Goranskij, D. J. Harman, D. H. Hartmann, G. Hosseinzadeh, J. Chuck Horst, K. Itagaki, J. José, F. Kabashima, A. Kaur, N. Kawai, J. A. Kennea, S. Kiyota, H. Kučáková, K. M. Lau, H. Maehara, H. Naito, K. Nakajima, K. Nishiyama, T. J. O'Brien, R. Quimby, G. Sala, Y. Sano, E. M. Sion, A. F. Valeev, F. Watanabe, M. Watanabe, B. F. Williams, Z. Xu

Physics & Astronomy

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Abstract

The Andromeda Galaxy recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a had been observed in eruption 10 times, including yearly eruptions from 2008 to 2014. With a measured recurrence period of P_rec = 351 ± 13 days (we believe the true value to be half of this) and a white dwarf very close to the Chandrasekhar limit, M31N 2008-12a has become the leading pre-explosion supernova type Ia progenitor candidate. Following multi-wavelength follow-up observations of the 2013 and 2014 eruptions, we initiated a campaign to ensure early detection of the predicted 2015 eruption, which triggered ambitious ground- and space-based follow-up programs. In this paper we present the 2015 detection, visible to near-infrared photometry and visible spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and X-ray observations from the Swift observatory. The LCOGT 2 m (Hawaii) discovered the 2015 eruption, estimated to have commenced at August 28.28 ± 0.12 UT. The 2013-2015 eruptions are remarkably similar at all wavelengths. New early spectroscopic observations reveal short-lived emission from material with velocities ∼13,000 km s^-1, possibly collimated outflows. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruption provide strong evidence supporting a red giant donor. An apparently stochastic variability during the early supersoft X-ray phase was comparable in amplitude and duration to past eruptions, but the 2013 and 2015 eruptions show evidence of a brief flux dip during this phase. The multi-eruption Swift/XRT spectra show tentative evidence of high-ionization emission lines above a high-temperature continuum. Following Henze et al. (2015a), the updated recurrence period based on all known eruptions is P_rec = 174 ± 10 days, and we expect the next eruption of M31N 2008-12a to occur around 2016 mid-September.

Original language	English
Article number	149
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	833
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149
Publication status	Published - Dec 20 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

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Darnley, M. J., Henze, M., Bode, M. F., Hachisu, I., Hernanz, M., Hornoch, K., Hounsell, R., Kato, M., Ness, J. U., Osborne, J. P., Page, K. L., Ribeiro, V. A. R. M., Rodríguez-Gil, P., Shafter, A. W., Shara, M. M., Steele, I. A., Williams, S. C., Arai, A., Arcavi, I., ... Xu, Z. (2016). M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION. Astrophysical Journal, 833(2), Article 149. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

@article{5673ce223ab94e2c96f792c1708e2f23,

title = "M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION",

abstract = "The Andromeda Galaxy recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a had been observed in eruption 10 times, including yearly eruptions from 2008 to 2014. With a measured recurrence period of Prec = 351 ± 13 days (we believe the true value to be half of this) and a white dwarf very close to the Chandrasekhar limit, M31N 2008-12a has become the leading pre-explosion supernova type Ia progenitor candidate. Following multi-wavelength follow-up observations of the 2013 and 2014 eruptions, we initiated a campaign to ensure early detection of the predicted 2015 eruption, which triggered ambitious ground- and space-based follow-up programs. In this paper we present the 2015 detection, visible to near-infrared photometry and visible spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and X-ray observations from the Swift observatory. The LCOGT 2 m (Hawaii) discovered the 2015 eruption, estimated to have commenced at August 28.28 ± 0.12 UT. The 2013-2015 eruptions are remarkably similar at all wavelengths. New early spectroscopic observations reveal short-lived emission from material with velocities ∼13,000 km s-1, possibly collimated outflows. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruption provide strong evidence supporting a red giant donor. An apparently stochastic variability during the early supersoft X-ray phase was comparable in amplitude and duration to past eruptions, but the 2013 and 2015 eruptions show evidence of a brief flux dip during this phase. The multi-eruption Swift/XRT spectra show tentative evidence of high-ionization emission lines above a high-temperature continuum. Following Henze et al. (2015a), the updated recurrence period based on all known eruptions is Prec = 174 ± 10 days, and we expect the next eruption of M31N 2008-12a to occur around 2016 mid-September.",

author = "Darnley, {M. J.} and M. Henze and Bode, {M. F.} and I. Hachisu and M. Hernanz and K. Hornoch and R. Hounsell and M. Kato and Ness, {J. U.} and Osborne, {J. P.} and Page, {K. L.} and Ribeiro, {V. A.R.M.} and P. Rodr{\'i}guez-Gil and Shafter, {A. W.} and Shara, {M. M.} and Steele, {I. A.} and Williams, {S. C.} and A. Arai and I. Arcavi and Barsukova, {E. A.} and P. Boumis and T. Chen and S. Fabrika and J. Figueira and X. Gao and N. Gehrels and P. Godon and Goranskij, {V. P.} and Harman, {D. J.} and Hartmann, {D. H.} and G. Hosseinzadeh and Horst, {J. Chuck} and K. Itagaki and J. Jos{\'e} and F. Kabashima and A. Kaur and N. Kawai and Kennea, {J. A.} and S. Kiyota and H. Ku{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a} and Lau, {K. M.} and H. Maehara and H. Naito and K. Nakajima and K. Nishiyama and O'Brien, {T. J.} and R. Quimby and G. Sala and Y. Sano and Sion, {E. M.} and Valeev, {A. F.} and F. Watanabe and M. Watanabe and Williams, {B. F.} and Z. Xu",

year = "2016",

month = dec,

day = "20",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149",

language = "English",

volume = "833",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2",

}

Darnley, MJ, Henze, M, Bode, MF, Hachisu, I, Hernanz, M, Hornoch, K, Hounsell, R, Kato, M, Ness, JU, Osborne, JP, Page, KL, Ribeiro, VARM, Rodríguez-Gil, P, Shafter, AW, Shara, MM, Steele, IA, Williams, SC, Arai, A, Arcavi, I, Barsukova, EA, Boumis, P, Chen, T, Fabrika, S, Figueira, J, Gao, X, Gehrels, N, Godon, P, Goranskij, VP, Harman, DJ, Hartmann, DH, Hosseinzadeh, G, Horst, JC, Itagaki, K, José, J, Kabashima, F, Kaur, A, Kawai, N, Kennea, JA, Kiyota, S, Kučáková, H, Lau, KM, Maehara, H, Naito, H, Nakajima, K, Nishiyama, K, O'Brien, TJ, Quimby, R, Sala, G, Sano, Y, Sion, EM, Valeev, AF, Watanabe, F, Watanabe, M, Williams, BF & Xu, Z 2016, 'M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 833, no. 2, 149. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

TY - JOUR

T1 - M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31

T2 - PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION

AU - Darnley, M. J.

AU - Henze, M.

AU - Bode, M. F.

AU - Hachisu, I.

AU - Hernanz, M.

AU - Hornoch, K.

AU - Hounsell, R.

AU - Kato, M.

AU - Ness, J. U.

AU - Osborne, J. P.

AU - Page, K. L.

AU - Ribeiro, V. A.R.M.

AU - Rodríguez-Gil, P.

AU - Shafter, A. W.

AU - Shara, M. M.

AU - Steele, I. A.

AU - Williams, S. C.

AU - Arai, A.

AU - Arcavi, I.

AU - Barsukova, E. A.

AU - Boumis, P.

AU - Chen, T.

AU - Fabrika, S.

AU - Figueira, J.

AU - Gao, X.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Godon, P.

AU - Goranskij, V. P.

AU - Harman, D. J.

AU - Hartmann, D. H.

AU - Hosseinzadeh, G.

AU - Horst, J. Chuck

AU - Itagaki, K.

AU - José, J.

AU - Kabashima, F.

AU - Kaur, A.

AU - Kawai, N.

AU - Kennea, J. A.

AU - Kiyota, S.

AU - Kučáková, H.

AU - Lau, K. M.

AU - Maehara, H.

AU - Naito, H.

AU - Nakajima, K.

AU - Nishiyama, K.

AU - O'Brien, T. J.

AU - Quimby, R.

AU - Sala, G.

AU - Sano, Y.

AU - Sion, E. M.

AU - Valeev, A. F.

AU - Watanabe, F.

AU - Watanabe, M.

AU - Williams, B. F.

AU - Xu, Z.

PY - 2016/12/20

Y1 - 2016/12/20

N2 - The Andromeda Galaxy recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a had been observed in eruption 10 times, including yearly eruptions from 2008 to 2014. With a measured recurrence period of Prec = 351 ± 13 days (we believe the true value to be half of this) and a white dwarf very close to the Chandrasekhar limit, M31N 2008-12a has become the leading pre-explosion supernova type Ia progenitor candidate. Following multi-wavelength follow-up observations of the 2013 and 2014 eruptions, we initiated a campaign to ensure early detection of the predicted 2015 eruption, which triggered ambitious ground- and space-based follow-up programs. In this paper we present the 2015 detection, visible to near-infrared photometry and visible spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and X-ray observations from the Swift observatory. The LCOGT 2 m (Hawaii) discovered the 2015 eruption, estimated to have commenced at August 28.28 ± 0.12 UT. The 2013-2015 eruptions are remarkably similar at all wavelengths. New early spectroscopic observations reveal short-lived emission from material with velocities ∼13,000 km s-1, possibly collimated outflows. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruption provide strong evidence supporting a red giant donor. An apparently stochastic variability during the early supersoft X-ray phase was comparable in amplitude and duration to past eruptions, but the 2013 and 2015 eruptions show evidence of a brief flux dip during this phase. The multi-eruption Swift/XRT spectra show tentative evidence of high-ionization emission lines above a high-temperature continuum. Following Henze et al. (2015a), the updated recurrence period based on all known eruptions is Prec = 174 ± 10 days, and we expect the next eruption of M31N 2008-12a to occur around 2016 mid-September.

AB - The Andromeda Galaxy recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a had been observed in eruption 10 times, including yearly eruptions from 2008 to 2014. With a measured recurrence period of Prec = 351 ± 13 days (we believe the true value to be half of this) and a white dwarf very close to the Chandrasekhar limit, M31N 2008-12a has become the leading pre-explosion supernova type Ia progenitor candidate. Following multi-wavelength follow-up observations of the 2013 and 2014 eruptions, we initiated a campaign to ensure early detection of the predicted 2015 eruption, which triggered ambitious ground- and space-based follow-up programs. In this paper we present the 2015 detection, visible to near-infrared photometry and visible spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and X-ray observations from the Swift observatory. The LCOGT 2 m (Hawaii) discovered the 2015 eruption, estimated to have commenced at August 28.28 ± 0.12 UT. The 2013-2015 eruptions are remarkably similar at all wavelengths. New early spectroscopic observations reveal short-lived emission from material with velocities ∼13,000 km s-1, possibly collimated outflows. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruption provide strong evidence supporting a red giant donor. An apparently stochastic variability during the early supersoft X-ray phase was comparable in amplitude and duration to past eruptions, but the 2013 and 2015 eruptions show evidence of a brief flux dip during this phase. The multi-eruption Swift/XRT spectra show tentative evidence of high-ionization emission lines above a high-temperature continuum. Following Henze et al. (2015a), the updated recurrence period based on all known eruptions is Prec = 174 ± 10 days, and we expect the next eruption of M31N 2008-12a to occur around 2016 mid-September.

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U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/833/2/149

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SN - 0004-637X

VL - 833

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

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M1 - 149

ER -

M31N 2008-12a - The REMARKABLE RECURRENT NOVA in M31: PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS of the 2015 ERUPTION

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