The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06

D. Minniti; R. K. Saito; F. Forster; G. Pignata; V. D. Ivanov; P. W. Lucas; J. C. Beamin; J. Borissova; M. Catelan; O. A. Gonzalez; M. Hempel; E. Hsiao; R. Kurtev; D. Majaess; N. Masetti; N. I. Morrell; M. M. Phillips; J. B. Pullen; M. Rejkuba; L. Smith; F. Surot; E. Valenti; M. Zoccali

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06

D. Minniti
, R. K. Saito
, F. Forster
, G. Pignata
, V. D. Ivanov
, P. W. Lucas
, J. C. Beamin
, J. Borissova
, M. Catelan
, O. A. Gonzalez
, M. Hempel
, E. Hsiao
, R. Kurtev
, D. Majaess
, N. Masetti
, N. I. Morrell
, M. M. Phillips
, J. B. Pullen
, M. Rejkuba
, L. Smith

F. Surot, E. Valenti, M. Zoccali

Exact Sciences School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the discovery of an enigmatic large-amplitude (ΔKs >10.5 mag) transient event in near-IR data obtained by the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey. The object (designated VVV-WIT- 06) is located at R.A.=17:07:18.917, decl.=-39:06:26.45 (J2000), corresponding to Galactic coordinates l=347.14539, b=0.88522. It exhibits a clear eruption, peaking at Ks=9 mag during 2013 July and fading to Ks ∼ 16.5 in 2017. Our late near-IR spectra show post-outburst emission lines, including some broad emission lines (upward of FWHM ∼ 3000 km s^-1). We estimate a total extinction of AV = 10-15 mag in the surrounding field, and no progenitor was observed in ZYJHKs images obtained during 2010-2012 (down to K_s > 18.5mag). Subsequent deep near-IR imaging and spectroscopy, in concert with the available multiband photometry, indicate that VVV-WIT-06 may be either: (i) the closest Type I SN observed in about 400 years, (ii) an exotic highamplitude nova that would extend the known realm of such objects, or (iii) a stellar merger. In all of these cases, VVV-WIT-06 is a fascinating and curious astrophysical target under any of the scenarios considered.

Original language	English
Article number	L23
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	849
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374
Publication status	Published - 10 Nov 2017

Keywords

binaries: close
Galaxy: stellar content
novae, cataclysmic variables
supernovae: individual

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

Cite this

Minniti, D., Saito, R. K., Forster, F., Pignata, G., Ivanov, V. D., Lucas, P. W., Beamin, J. C., Borissova, J., Catelan, M., Gonzalez, O. A., Hempel, M., Hsiao, E., Kurtev, R., Majaess, D., Masetti, N., Morrell, N. I., Phillips, M. M., Pullen, J. B., Rejkuba, M., ... Zoccali, M. (2017). The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 849(2), Article L23. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

@article{48c80b43702c4743a1cbb1b4a36f022a,

title = "The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06",

abstract = "We report the discovery of an enigmatic large-amplitude (ΔKs >10.5 mag) transient event in near-IR data obtained by the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey. The object (designated VVV-WIT- 06) is located at R.A.=17:07:18.917, decl.=-39:06:26.45 (J2000), corresponding to Galactic coordinates l=347.14539, b=0.88522. It exhibits a clear eruption, peaking at Ks=9 mag during 2013 July and fading to Ks ∼ 16.5 in 2017. Our late near-IR spectra show post-outburst emission lines, including some broad emission lines (upward of FWHM ∼ 3000 km s-1). We estimate a total extinction of AV = 10-15 mag in the surrounding field, and no progenitor was observed in ZYJHKs images obtained during 2010-2012 (down to Ks > 18.5mag). Subsequent deep near-IR imaging and spectroscopy, in concert with the available multiband photometry, indicate that VVV-WIT-06 may be either: (i) the closest Type I SN observed in about 400 years, (ii) an exotic highamplitude nova that would extend the known realm of such objects, or (iii) a stellar merger. In all of these cases, VVV-WIT-06 is a fascinating and curious astrophysical target under any of the scenarios considered.",

keywords = "binaries: close, Galaxy: stellar content, novae, cataclysmic variables, supernovae: individual",

author = "D. Minniti and Saito, \{R. K.\} and F. Forster and G. Pignata and Ivanov, \{V. D.\} and Lucas, \{P. W.\} and Beamin, \{J. C.\} and J. Borissova and M. Catelan and Gonzalez, \{O. A.\} and M. Hempel and E. Hsiao and R. Kurtev and D. Majaess and N. Masetti and Morrell, \{N. I.\} and Phillips, \{M. M.\} and Pullen, \{J. B.\} and M. Rejkuba and L. Smith and F. Surot and E. Valenti and M. Zoccali",

year = "2017",

month = nov,

day = "10",

doi = "10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374",

language = "English",

volume = "849",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

}

Minniti, D, Saito, RK, Forster, F, Pignata, G, Ivanov, VD, Lucas, PW, Beamin, JC, Borissova, J, Catelan, M, Gonzalez, OA, Hempel, M, Hsiao, E, Kurtev, R, Majaess, D, Masetti, N, Morrell, NI, Phillips, MM, Pullen, JB, Rejkuba, M, Smith, L, Surot, F, Valenti, E & Zoccali, M 2017, 'The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 849, no. 2, L23. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06

AU - Minniti, D.

AU - Saito, R. K.

AU - Forster, F.

AU - Pignata, G.

AU - Ivanov, V. D.

AU - Lucas, P. W.

AU - Beamin, J. C.

AU - Borissova, J.

AU - Catelan, M.

AU - Gonzalez, O. A.

AU - Hempel, M.

AU - Hsiao, E.

AU - Kurtev, R.

AU - Majaess, D.

AU - Masetti, N.

AU - Morrell, N. I.

AU - Phillips, M. M.

AU - Pullen, J. B.

AU - Rejkuba, M.

AU - Smith, L.

AU - Surot, F.

AU - Valenti, E.

AU - Zoccali, M.

PY - 2017/11/10

Y1 - 2017/11/10

N2 - We report the discovery of an enigmatic large-amplitude (ΔKs >10.5 mag) transient event in near-IR data obtained by the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey. The object (designated VVV-WIT- 06) is located at R.A.=17:07:18.917, decl.=-39:06:26.45 (J2000), corresponding to Galactic coordinates l=347.14539, b=0.88522. It exhibits a clear eruption, peaking at Ks=9 mag during 2013 July and fading to Ks ∼ 16.5 in 2017. Our late near-IR spectra show post-outburst emission lines, including some broad emission lines (upward of FWHM ∼ 3000 km s-1). We estimate a total extinction of AV = 10-15 mag in the surrounding field, and no progenitor was observed in ZYJHKs images obtained during 2010-2012 (down to Ks > 18.5mag). Subsequent deep near-IR imaging and spectroscopy, in concert with the available multiband photometry, indicate that VVV-WIT-06 may be either: (i) the closest Type I SN observed in about 400 years, (ii) an exotic highamplitude nova that would extend the known realm of such objects, or (iii) a stellar merger. In all of these cases, VVV-WIT-06 is a fascinating and curious astrophysical target under any of the scenarios considered.

AB - We report the discovery of an enigmatic large-amplitude (ΔKs >10.5 mag) transient event in near-IR data obtained by the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey. The object (designated VVV-WIT- 06) is located at R.A.=17:07:18.917, decl.=-39:06:26.45 (J2000), corresponding to Galactic coordinates l=347.14539, b=0.88522. It exhibits a clear eruption, peaking at Ks=9 mag during 2013 July and fading to Ks ∼ 16.5 in 2017. Our late near-IR spectra show post-outburst emission lines, including some broad emission lines (upward of FWHM ∼ 3000 km s-1). We estimate a total extinction of AV = 10-15 mag in the surrounding field, and no progenitor was observed in ZYJHKs images obtained during 2010-2012 (down to Ks > 18.5mag). Subsequent deep near-IR imaging and spectroscopy, in concert with the available multiband photometry, indicate that VVV-WIT-06 may be either: (i) the closest Type I SN observed in about 400 years, (ii) an exotic highamplitude nova that would extend the known realm of such objects, or (iii) a stellar merger. In all of these cases, VVV-WIT-06 is a fascinating and curious astrophysical target under any of the scenarios considered.

KW - binaries: close

KW - Galaxy: stellar content

KW - novae, cataclysmic variables

KW - supernovae: individual

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85034453576

U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa9374

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85034453576

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 849

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 2

M1 - L23

ER -

The Emergence of the Infrared Transient VVV-WIT-06

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Keywords

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