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M85 optical transient 2006-1 (M85 OT 2006-1) is the most luminous member ofthe small family of V838 Mon-like objects, whose nature is still a mystery.This event took place in the Virgo cluster of galaxies and peaked at anabsolute magnitude of I~-13. Here we present Hubble Space Telescope images ofM85 OT 2006-1 and its environment, taken before and after the eruption, alongwith a spectrum of the host galaxy at the transient location. We find that theprogenitor of M85 OT 2006-1 was not associated with any star forming region.The g and z-band absolute magnitudes of the progenitor were fainter than about-4 and -6 mag, respectively. Therefore, we can set a lower limit of ~50 Myr onthe age of the youngest stars at the location of the progenitor thatcorresponds to a mass of <7 solar mass. Previously published line indicessuggest that M85 has a mean stellar age of 1.6+/-0.3 Gyr. If this mean age isrepresentative of the progenitor of M85 OT 2006-1, then we can furtherconstrain its mass to be less than 2 solar mass. We compare the energetics andmass limit derived for the M85 OT 2006-1 progenitor with those expected from asimple model of violent stellar mergers. Combined with further modeling, thesenew clues may ultimately reveal the true nature of these puzzling events.

The Environment of M85 optical transient 2006-1: constraints on the progenitor age and mass