ASASSN-18gb: probable nova (17.5 mag) in NGC 3109 (ATel #11470)

Affiliation
Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables (AFOEV)
Fri, 03/23/2018 - 20:22

"ASASSN-18gb: Discovery of A Probable Nova in NGC 3109" (ATel #11470):
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11470

Excerpt:
"... we discovered a new transient source, most likely a nova, in the Local Group galaxy NGC 3109. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first nova candidate discovered in NGC 3109.
ASASSN-18gb (AT 2018akx) was discovered in images obtained on UT 2018-03-22.77 at V~17.5 mag. We do not detect (V>18.6) the object in images taken on UT 2018-03-20.92 and before. An image obtained on 2018-03-23 by J. Brimacombe confirms the discovery of the transient. This figure
http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/assassin/followup/asassn-18gb.png
shows the archival DSS image of the host (left) and the confirmation image (right). The red circle has a radius of 5" and is centered on the position of the source in the confirmation image."

Clear skies,
Patrick

Affiliation
Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables (AFOEV)
Spectroscopic confirmation as a nova eruption in NGC 3109

M. J. Darnley (LJMU), M. W. Healy (LJMU), S. C. Williams (Lancaster):
"ASASSN-18gb: Spectroscopic confirmation as a nova eruption in NGC 3109" (ATel #11472)
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11472

Excerpt:
"This spectrum strongly suggests that the initial classification in ATel #11470 is correct and this is a (the first) nova eruption to be observed in NGC 3109. The spectrum also indicates that this nova was caught on the rise, or at least around optical maximum."

Regards,
Patrick