Infrared observations of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis: ancient dust basks in the warm glow of the 2011 outburst

Abstract

We present Spitzer Space Telescope and Herschel Space Observatory infrared observations of the recurrent nova T Pyx during its 2011 eruption, complemented by ground-base optical-infrared photometry. We find that the eruption has heated dust in the pre-existing nebulosity associated with T Pyx. This is most likely interstellar dust swept up by T Pyx - either during previous eruptions or by a wind - rather than the accumulation of dust produced during eruptions.

Accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (2)

• The 2011 outburst of the recurrent novaT Pyx. Evidence for a face-on bipolar ejection
• The 2011 Eruption of the Recurrent Nova T Pyxidis; the Discovery, the Pre-eruption Rise, the Pre-eruption Orbital Period, and the Reason for the Long Delay

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• Optical spectroscopic and polarization properties of 2011 outburst of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis
• A WISE view of novae. I. The data
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