Spitzer Observations of V838 Monocerotis: Detection of A Rare Infrared Light Echo

Details Spitzer Observations of V838 Monocerotis: Detection of A Rare Infrared Light Echo Spitzer Observations of V838 Monocerotis: Detection of A Rare Infrared Light Echo

Jun 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...208.4602s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 208, #46.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.121

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

We present Spitzer observations of the unusual variable V838 Monocerotis. Extended emission is detected around the object at 24, 70 and 160 micron. The extended infrared emission is strongly correlated spatially with the HST optical light echo images taken at a similar epoch. We attribute this diffuse nebulosity to be from an infrared light echo caused by reprocessed thermal emission from dust heated by the outward-propagating radiation from the 2002 eruption. Unresolved emission at 24 and 70 micron is also seen, indicating the presence of hot dust close to the central star. Spectra from 10-35 micron confirm the presence of hot dust near the central source and the emission is consistent with thermal dust emission of a temperature of 480 K. The mass of this dust is on the order of 1E-6 solar mass assuming a distance of 8 kpc, and might indicate the presence of freshly condensed material in the outburst ejecta. In contrast, the dust mass of the diffuse component (light echo) is on the order of a few solar masses, too massive for the echo material to be the ejecta from previous outburst/mass-lossing events. This is strongly suggestive that the significant fraction of the matter seen through the light echo is interstellar in origin.

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