2011CBET.2795....1T

Following a communication by J. Thommes (San Diego, California) of the discovery in the LDN 1656 cloud in Monoceros of a compact reflection nebula that was not visible on the first Palomar Sky Survey plates, B. Reipurth, C. Aspin, and G. H. Herbig, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, report that optical and infrared low- and high-resolution spectroscopy of the illuminating star (R.A. = 6:57:22.2, Decl. = -8:23:18, equinox 2000.0) show an absorption-line spectrum with great similarity to FU Ori, albeit with significantly more reddening. H_alpha and the sodium doublet show prominent P-Cyg profiles (indicating a massive high-velocity outflowing wind), lithium is present, and the near-infrared CO bands are in deep absorption – suggesting that the star is a new member of the rare "FUor" class of young eruptive variables. Optical imaging obtained at the Gemini-North telescope shows a bright, compact reflection nebula surrounding the star, and photometry indicates an SDSS r'-band magnitude of 16.11 (0.05) in a 1"-radius aperture, and 14.59 (0.05) in a 5"-radius aperture. Gemini-North NIRI photometry yields J = 9.80, H = 8.44, K = 7.33 on 2010 Oct. 14, whereas the 2MASS catalogue lists the following magnitudes for the star (2MASS J06572222-0823176): J = 11.50, H = 9.99, K = 9.00 (i.e., significantly fainter. Spitzer IRAC magnitudes for the star are I1 = 6.90, I2 = 6.16, I3 = 5.42, I4 = 4.50. Further details will be communicated elsewhere.