Previous abstract Next abstract
We report thermal infrared spectroscopy of 51 Ophiuchi (B9.5Ve) obtained in Feb 1993 at the IRTF using the Aerospace 3 - 14 micron spectrograph. The IR excess reported by Fajardo et al. (ApJ Let, 417, L33) is resolved to show a broad silicate emission feature that would seem to be associated with warm (600 K), small dust particles. The feature is smooth and nearly structureless and does not show the breaks in the spectrum near 9 and 11.3 microns. In this paper we present the spectrum and discuss it in relation to those of beta Pic, other shell sources and some recent comets.