Optical Spectroscopy of the IR Source CPM 19 and Surrounding Objects

TL;DR

This study presents the first optical spectra of the infrared source CPM 19, revealing strong emission lines and suggesting it is a pre-main-sequence star possibly belonging to the UX Ori-type class with long eclipses.

Contribution

First optical spectra of CPM 19 are provided, offering insights into its nature and proposing it as a pre-main-sequence UX Ori-type star with long eclipses.

Findings

Detection of strong, broad Hα emission line

Possible presence of [S II] emission

Optical component likely in pre-main-sequence stage

Abstract

Optical spectra of the well-known infrared source CPM~19, which exhibited a strong decline in brightness during the period from 1984--1987 to 2000--2005, have been obtained for the first time. A strong and broad H$\alpha$ emission line has been detected, along with the possible presence of [S II] emission. No traces of an absorption spectrum are observed. It is suggested that the optical component of CPM 19 is in the pre-main-sequence stage. Various explanations of the observed properties are considered; a plausible scenario is that CPM 19 may belong to the class of UX Ori-type stars with an unusually long eclipse duration, similar to that observed in V1184 Tau. Spectra of other nebulous objects in the vicinity of CPM 19, including the HH objects HH 940 and HH 941, have also been obtained and discussed.