[IAUC] CBET 2033: 20091121 : IRAS 06068-0641 AND IRAS 06068-0643

Sab Nov 21 01:49:34 ART 2009

                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 2033
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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IRAS 06068-0641 AND IRAS 06068-0643
     P. Wils, Vereniging Voor Sterrenkunde, Hever, Belgium; J. Greaves,
Northamptonshire, U.K.; A. J. Drake, California Institute of Technology; M.
Catelan, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; and the Catalina Real-time
Transient Survey (CRTS) collaboration (cf. CBETs 1523, 2023) report the
discovery of a possible FU-Ori-type eruption (see Hartmann and Kenyon 1996,
ARAA 34, 207) located at R.A. = 6h09m19s.32, Decl. = -6o41'55".4 (equinox
2000.0), and coincident with the infrared source IRAS 06068-0641.  Discovered
by the CRTS on Nov. 10, it has been continuously brightening from at least
early 2005 (when it was mag 14.8 on unfiltered CCD images) to the present mag
12.6, and may possibly brighten further.  On recent images, a faint cometary
reflection nebula is visible to the east.  A spectrum (range 350-900 nm),
taken with the SMARTS 1.5-m telescope at Cerro Tololo, on Nov. 17, shows
H_alpha in emission, all other Balmer lines and He I (at 501.5 nm) in
absorption, and a very strong Ca II infrared triplet in emission, confirming
it to be a young stellar object.  The object lies inside a dark nebula to the
south of the Mon R2 association, and is likely related to it.  In addition,
also inside this dark nebula, a second object at R.A. = 6h09m13s.70, Decl. =
-6o43'55".6, coincident with IRAS 06068-0643, has been varying between mag 15
and 20 over the past few years, reminiscent of UX-Ori-type objects with very
deep fades.  Also, this second object supports a variable cometary reflection
nebula, extending to the north.  The spectrum of this object also shows
H_alpha and the strong Ca II infrared triplet in emission.  Light curves,
spectra, and images are available at the following website URL:
http://crts.caltech.edu/CSS091110.html.


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                         (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 November 21                 (CBET 2033)              Daniel W. E. Green