# # Program information file # PROGRAM_ID 2024A001 PROGRAM_TITLE The Eruption of the Recurrent Nova T CrB PROGRAM_INV1 Chick Woodward PROGRAM_INV2 Dipankar P.K. Banerjee PROGRAM_INV3 Nye Evans PROGRAM_INV4 Tom Geballe PROGRAM_INV5 PROGRAM_SCICAT stellar PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG One of the most famous and brightest novae, the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis [T CrB], is expected to erupt at any time during the next 6-12 months. It has had only two earlier recorded eruptions in 1866 and 1946 and thus has never been studied in the IR. Nova eruptions of T CrB decline in visual brightness very quickly, fading 2, 3, and 6 magnitudes from the peak in 4, 6, and 15 days respectively. Importantly there are also profound physical changes in the ejecta, especially during the first few days, e.g., the line profiles show rapid changes and coronal lines may begin to appear. Using SpeX [SXD+LXD], we will observe and analyze [1] the evolutions of: shocks propagating through the ejecta; [2] the changes in velocity profiles of the emission lines, and [3] the coronal line emission, deriving elemental abundances from the H, He, and coronal lines. We will [4] identify whether photoionization or shocks cause the coronal line emission and will [5] attempt to determine the cause of the poorly understood second peak seen in the T CrB light curve. The program will be triggered when event-brokers and other alerts streams [e.g., ATels, CBAT, ASASN] notify the community of the eruption. To achieve these science goals, we request 5 epochs [1.25hrs ea.] of SpeX observations [using remote observing access] which will give a thorough documentation of all phases of post-eruption evolution using an immediate and pre-planned observational response. IRTF datasets will be a significant contribution to and complement a community wide panchromatic observational campaign from both ground and space to study this event. PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_END