VVV-WIT-12 and Its Fashionable Nebula: A 4 yr Long-period Young Stellar Object with a Light Echo?

IF 8.8 1区物理与天体物理 Q1 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Astrophysical Journal Letters Pub Date : 2023-11-01 DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/ad07e6

Roberto K. Saito, Bringfried Stecklum, Dante Minniti, Philip W. Lucas, Zhen Guo, Leigh C. Smith, Luciano Fraga, Felipe Navarete, Juan Carlos Beamín, Calum Morris

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract We report the serendipitous discovery of VVV-WIT-12, an unusual variable source that seems to induce variability in its surrounding nebula. The source belongs to the rare objects that we call WITs (short for What Is This?) discovered within the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey. VVV-WIT-12 was discovered during a pilot search for light echoes from distant supernovae in the Milky Way using the near-IR images of the VVV survey. This source has an extremely red spectral energy distribution, consistent with a very reddened ( A V ∼ 100 mag) long-period variable star ( P ∼ 1525 days). Furthermore, it is enshrouded in a nebula that changes brightness and color with time, apparently in sync with the central source variations. The near-IR light curve and complementary follow-up spectroscopy observations are consistent with a variable young stellar object illuminating its surrounding nebula. In this case the source periodic variation along the cycles produces an unprecedented light echo in the different regions of the nebula.

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VVV-WIT-12和它的时尚星云:一个有光回波的4年长周期年轻恒星物体?

摘要:我们报告了偶然发现的VVV-WIT-12，这是一个不寻常的变源，似乎在其周围的星云中引起了变化。来源属于我们称之为WITs(这是什么?的缩写?)的罕见物体，它是在Vía Láctea (VVV)调查中的VISTA变量中发现的。VVV- wit -12是在利用VVV调查的近红外图像对银河系中遥远超新星的光回波进行初步搜索时发现的。该源具有极红的光谱能量分布，与一颗非常变红(a V ~ 100等)的长周期变星(P ~ 1525天)一致。此外，它被一个星云所笼罩，星云的亮度和颜色随着时间的变化而变化，显然与中心源的变化同步。近红外光曲线和补充的后续光谱观测与一个可变的年轻恒星物体照亮其周围的星云是一致的。在这种情况下，光源周期的变化沿着周期在星云的不同区域产生了前所未有的光回波。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Astrophysical Journal Letters ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS-

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

6.30%

发文量

513

审稿时长

2-3 weeks

期刊介绍： The Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL) is widely regarded as the foremost journal for swiftly disseminating groundbreaking astronomical research. It focuses on concise reports that highlight pivotal advancements in the field of astrophysics. By prioritizing timeliness and the generation of immediate interest among researchers, ApJL showcases articles featuring novel discoveries and critical findings that have a profound effect on the scientific community. Moreover, ApJL ensures that published articles are comprehensive in their scope, presenting context that can be readily comprehensible to scientists who may not possess expertise in the specific disciplines covered.