Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #60142


Infrared outburst in Arp 299

Principal Investigator: Seppo Mattila
           Institution: University of Turku

     Technical Contact: Seppo Mattila, University of Turku

Co-Investigators: 
Rubina Kotak, Queen's University Belfast                              
Peter Meikle, Imperial College London                                 
David Clements, Imperial College London                               
Tom Geballe, Gemini Observatory                                       

Science Category: ULIRGS/LIRGS/HLIRGS 
 Observing Modes: IRAC Post-Cryo Mapping
  Hours Approved: 0.4 

Abstract:
Arp 299 is one of the nearest examples of a luminous infrared galaxy. We
discovered a strong infrared outburst in Arp 299 at near-infrared wavelengths
which we have been monitoring now for four years. The outburst is apparent at
infrared wavelengths but not in the optical indicating emission from warm dust
and a high extinction. This source could originate from an IR 'dust echo'
resulting either from a very energetic and highly obscured SN or an outburst of
a highly obscured active galactic nucleus. To study the origin of this outburst
we propose short IRAC observations.