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R.R. Joyce, A. Hedden, K.H. Hinkle, N.A. Sharp (NOAO)
We present near infrared images and medium-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the post-AGB star V605 Aql, which began a final-flash outburst in 1919. V605 Aql is the central star of the planetary nebula A58, but has been incorrectly identified with other stars in this field. The infrared images show V605 Aql as a very red star at the center of the A58 nebula. Photometric analysis of our images yield near-infrared magnitudes J = 18.7, H = 16.78, and K = 14.67, confirming that the infrared light from V605 Aql originates in an optically thick dust cloud surrounding the star. We have also obtained an infrared spectrum of the 10830 Å~ region at R = 1500, which shows a red-shifted He I line in emission. He I emission is also seen in Sakurai's Star, which experienced a similar final flash in 1995.
NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.~under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.