The Evolution of Nova V382 Vel 1999

Abstract

We report results of spectroscopic observations of V382 Vel (Nova Vel 1999) carried out at La Silla between 5 and 498 days after maximum light (23 May 1999, V(max) $\sim 2.3\pm 0.1$). The analysis of the photometric and spectroscopic evolution shows this object to be a {\sl fast nova} belonging to the Fe II {\sl broad} spectroscopic class. A distance of 1.7 kpc ($\pm 20%$) is derived from the maximum magnitude vs. rate of decline relationship after correcting for the small reddening toward the nova, E(B--V)$\lsim 0.10$. From the measured H$α$ flux and the associated rate of expansion we derive an approximate mass for the ejected shell, M$_{env}\lsim 10^{-5}$ M$_\odot$. We have also observed during the early decline a broad, short-lived ($\lsim$ 10 days) feature at 6705-6715 à for which several identifications are possible, one of which is the lithium doublet at 6708 à and which could place an empirical limit on the lithium production that might occur during the outburst of a {\sl fast nova}. The high luminosity at maximum, M$_v=-8.9$, and the relatively small height above the galactic plane ($z\lsim 160$pc) suggest that V382 Vel originated from a massive white dwarf, likely in the mass range 1.1--1.2 M$_\odot$.

13 pages + 9 plots(gif). Accepted by A&A