The peculiar nova V1309 Scorpii/nova Scorpii 2008*
A candidate twin of V838 Monocerotis
1
ESO, Alonso de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, CL, Chile e-mail: [emason;tbensby]@eso.org
2
Departamento de Astronomia - Universidade de Sao Paulo, 05508-900 Sao Paulo, BR, Brazil e-mail: marcos@astro.iag.usp.br
3
STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA e-mail: wms@stsci.edu
4
Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, CA, USA e-mail: gpreston@ociw.edu
Received:
5
November
2009
Accepted:
17
April
2010
Aims. Nova Scorpii 2008 was the target of our Director Discretionary Time proposal at VLT+UVES in order to study the evolution, origin and abundances of the heavy-element absorption system recently discovered in 80% of classical novae in outburst.
Methods. The early decline of nova Scorpii 2008 was monitored with high resolution echelle spectroscopy at 5 different epochs. The analysis of the absorption and the emission lines show many unusual characteristics.
Results. Nova Scorpii 2008 is confirmed to differ from a common classical nova as well as a symbiotic recurrent nova, and it shows characteristics which are common to the so called, yet debated, red-novae. The origin of this new nova remains uncertain.
Key words: stars: individual: V1309 Sco / novae, cataclysmic variables / binaries: symbiotic
© ESO, 2010