OPTICAL AND INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY OF THE SYMBIOTIC SYSTEM V1016 CYGNI

We present spectrophotometry from 0.46 to 1.3 μm of the peculiar emission-line object V1016 Cyg. The optical region displays a weak continuum underlying the rich emission-line spectrum detailed in past studies. The infrared spectrum consists of prominent emission lines of H I, He I, He II, [N I], O I and [S III] overlaying a strong steller continuum. The latter displays the broad steam bands at 0.94 μm and 1.13 μm characteristic of a late-type, oxygen-rich giant as well as an absorption at 1.05 μm which is due to VO. The presence of these molecular features indicates a spectral class of M6 or later for the cool secondary. The reddening of the secondary does not appear to be much different from that of the emission lines. Among the infrared emission features is the rarely seen permitted transition of neutral oxygen at 1.1287 μm. Its presence at a strength comparable to O I λ8446, together with the absence of O I λ13164, confirms the result of Strafella that the strong O I lines arise primarily from fluorescent excitation by Lyβ.