Hen 3-860: New southern eclipsing symbiotic star observed in the outburst

TL;DR

This study reports the discovery and analysis of Hen 3-860, a new eclipsing symbiotic star exhibiting multiple outbursts, eclipses, and a 602-day orbital period, expanding understanding of such binary systems.

Contribution

First spectroscopic and photometric analysis classifies Hen 3-860 as a classical eclipsing symbiotic star with detailed stellar parameters and orbital characteristics.

Findings

Classified as a classical symbiotic star of infrared type S.

Identified at least four outbursts in the last 120 years.

Determined the orbital period to be 602 days.

Abstract

Brightening of Hen 3-860, previously classified as an H$\alpha$ emitter, was detected by the ASAS-SN survey at the end of the year 2016. We have obtained the first spectroscopic observations of the transient and supplemented them with photometric data from the DASCH archive of astronomical plates, ASAS and ASAS-SN surveys. Based on the results of our analysis, we can classify the object as a classical symbiotic star of the infrared type S, consisting of an M2-3 giant with $T_{\rm g}$ $\sim$ 3 550 K, a radius $R_{\rm g}\sim$ 60 - 75 R$_{\odot}$, and a luminosity $L_{\rm g}\sim$ 540 - 760 L$_{\odot}$, and a hot and luminous component ($T_{\rm h}$ $\sim$ $1-2 \times 10^5$ K and $L_{\rm h} \sim 10^3 \rm L_\odot$). The system experienced at least four outbursts in the last 120 years. In addition to the outbursts, its light curves revealed the presence of eclipses of the hot component and its surrounding (relatively cool) shell, which developed during the outburst and redistributed a fraction of the radiation of the hot component into the optical, by the giant, classifying the object as a representative of a group of eclipsing symbiotic stars. The eclipses allowed us to reveal the orbital period of the system to be 602 days.