Recovery of the X‐Ray Transient QX Normae (=X1608−52) in Outburst and Quiescence

We present optical and near-IR observations of QX Nor, the counterpart to therecurrent soft X-ray transient X1608-52, after its reappearance following theX-ray outburst in February 1996. The object has been seen only once before,during an X-ray outburst in 1977. Data from 3-5 months after the outburst showthe counterpart at a mean magnitude of R=20.2 and variable on timescales ofdays. A comparison with identical observations in 1995 implies that the objecthas brightened by at least 1.8 mag in R following the X-ray outburst. We alsodetected QX Nor in the IR in both quiescence and outburst. A faint source isvisible in the J but not the R band in May 1995. These first observations inthe quiescent state yield magnitudes and colors consistent with opticalemission from a low mass companion in the binary system, as is true in othersoft X-ray transients.Comment: 10 pages including 4 figures and 2 tables; Uses AASTeX 4.0; Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 485, August 20, 199