CK Vul: a smorgasbord of hydrocarbons rules out a 1670 nova (and much else besides). Issue 3 (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, A.; Gehrz, R. D.; Woodward, C. E.; Sarre, P. J.; van Loon, J. T.; Helton, L. A.; Starrfield, S.; Eyres, S. P. S.
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 457:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 2871
• Page End: 2876
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: circumstellar matter -- stars: individual: CK Vul -- ISM: molecules -- infrared: stars; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract : We present observations of CK Vul obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope . The infrared spectrum reveals a warm dust continuum with nebular, molecular hydrogen and HCN lines superimposed, together with the 'Unidentified Infrared' features. The nebular lines are consistent with emission by a low-density gas. We conclude that the Spitzer data, combined with other information, are incompatible with CK Vul being a classical nova remnant in 'hibernation' after the event of 1670, a 'very late thermal pulse', a 'Luminous Red Variable', such as V838 Mon, or a 'diffusion-induced nova'. The true nature of CK Vul remains a mystery.