Infrared observations of Kuwano's novalike object.

Infrared observations made in April, 1979 of the nova-like object discovered by Kuwano in Vulpecula are reported. Measurements in the range 1 to 5 microns were obtained with an infrared photometer adapted to the Cassegrain focus of a 1-m telescope on April 13 and April 15, 1979. Observations are shown to lie close to the energy distribution of a black body at 3200 K, with an excess in the visible region. Such a temperature would correspond to a main sequence star of type M 2 or a giant of type M O, however, the V magnitude of the object suggests that it lies above the main sequence. It is concluded that the nova-like object is probably related to the symbiotic stars, consisting of a binary containing a variable cool star which can expand to provoke mass transfer onto a normally faint compact companion.