2002IAUC.7982....1D

S. Desidera and U. Munari, Asiago Astrophysical Observatory, report: "Spectroscopic observations (ranges 437-774 nm at 0.32 nm/pixel, 625-805 nm at 0.18 nm/pixel, and 819-921 nm at 0.10 nm/pixel) of V838 Mon were obtained on Oct. 2.17 UT with the Asiago 1.82-m telescope (+ AFOSC), following conjunction with the sun. Longward of 700 nm, the spectrum is dominated by TiO and particularly VO absorption bands, suggesting a spectral type slightly later than the M10-III star U Her. Thus, a dramatic temperature decrease of the outbursting star is contributing to the fading at optical wavelengths and to the brightening in the infrared observed over the last few months. We see no H-alpha in emission, no Ca II triplet absorption in the far red, and no P-Cyg profiles elsewhere, thus marking a sharp contrast with the last spectra recorded in April-May. Shortward of 700 nm, a weak blue continuum dominates the spectrum. At the low S/N of our observations, the spectrum could resemble the F0 type estimated in quiescence for V838 Mon by Munari et al. (2002, A.Ap. 389, L51), in which case the eruption that took V838 Mon to V = 6.7 in Feb. could have occurred in a binary companion to the F0 star. Deeper observations of the blue continuum are in progress."