The Progenitor of the FUor-Type Young Eruptive Star 2MASS J06593158-0405277

Abstract

Only a dozen confirmed FU Orionis-type young outbursting stars (FUors) are known today; this explains the interest in the recent FUor eruption of 2MASS J06593158-0405277. Its outburst and expected decline will be subject to numerous studies in the future. Almost equally important for the understanding of the eruption mechanism, however, is the physical characterization of the FUor’s precursor. Here we analyze unpublished archival data and summarize—and partly revise—all relevant photometry from optical to submillimeter wavelengths. Our analysis implies that the FUor is possibly associated with eight T Tauri star candidates and a strong Class 0 source. Adopting a distance of 450 pc for the FUor, we derive a quiescent bolometric luminosity and temperature of {{L}_bol} = 4.8 L _⊙ and {{T}_bol} = 1190 K, typical for young Class II sources. The central star has a temperature of {{T}_eff} = 4000 K, a mass of 0.75 M _⊙ , and an age of about 6 × 10⁵ yr. The SED implies a circumstellar mass of 0.01-0.06 M _⊙ , and the system is surrounded by a faint infrared nebulosity. Our results provide an almost complete picture of a FUor progenitor, supporting the interpretation of future post-outburst studies.

Based on observations made with the Herschel Space Observatory. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.