On the light echo in V838 Mon

Abstract

We present a theoretical outline of the light echo phenomenon and results of simple numerical simulations and we study the available images of the light echo in V838 Mon obtained with HST. An investigation of the observed expansion of the light echo leads us to conclude that the distance to V838 Mon is ≳5 kpc. From an analysis of the inner bright echo rim we estimate the distance to be 8.0 ± 2.0 kpc. We also investigate the structure of the dust distribution in the vicinity of the object. We find no obvious signs of spherical symmetry in the resultant distribution. Near the central object there is a strongly asymmetric dust-free region which we interpret as produced by a fast wind from the V838 Mon system. The asymmetry would imply that V838 Mon is moving relative to the dusty medium. From these results we conclude that the dust illuminated by the light echo is of interstellar origin rather than produced by mass loss from V838 Mon in the past.