Open AccessThe Spitzer Infrared Spectrometer view of V4334 Sgr (Sakurai's Object)
Author(s) -
Evans A.,
Tyne V. H.,
Van Loon J. Th.,
Smalley B.,
Geballe T. R.,
Gehrz R. D.,
Woodward C. E.,
Zijlstra A. A.,
Polomski E.,
Rushton M. T.,
Eyres S. P. S.,
Starrfield S. G.,
Krautter J.,
Wagner R. M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society: letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.067
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1745-3933
pISSN - 1745-3925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2006.00246.x
Subject(s) - physics , infrared , spectrometer , spitzer space telescope , astrophysics , telescope , astronomy , young stellar object , thermal , absorption (acoustics) , optics , stars , star formation , meteorology
We present an observation of the very late thermal pulse object V4334 Sgr (Sakurai's Object) with the Infrared Spectrometer (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope . The emission from 5–38 μm is dominated by the still‐cooling dust shell. A number of features are seen in absorption against the dust shell, which we attribute to HCN and polyyne molecules. We use these features to determine the 12 C/ 13 C ratio for the absorbing gas to be ∼3.2 +3.2 −1.6 ; this implies that, despite the H‐content of the molecules, the hydrocarbon‐bearing gas must have originated in material produced in the very late thermal pulse. We see no evidence of emission lines, despite the recently‐reported optical and radio observations that suggest the effective temperature of the stellar remnant is rising.