CK Vul: reborn perhaps, but not hibernating |
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| Authors: | A Evans J Th van Loon A A Zijlstra D Pollacco B Smalley V H Tyne S P S Eyres |
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| Institution: | 1Department of Physics, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG; 2Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD; 3Department of Pure &Applied Physics, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN; 4Centre for Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE |
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| Abstract: | It has been claimed that CK Vul (the remnant of Nova Vul 1670) may be the oldest recovered 'old nova' and as such provides evidence in support of the hibernation scenario for classical nova systems. However this interpretation has been challenged. We present 450- and 850-μm photometry of CK Vul which cast further doubt on its old nova status. It displays a large far infrared-submillimetre flux excess, inconsistent with the properties of an old nova. Furthermore, IRAS images show that CK Vul is located in a 'cavity' in the infrared emission, a feature often associated with planetary nebulae. It seems more likely that CK Vul – and hence Nova Vul 1670 – is (like V605 Aql and V4334 Sgr) an evolved star in the throes of a final thermal pulse. |
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| Keywords: | stars: evolution stars: individual: CK Vul novae cataclysmic variables |
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