Lucas, P. W.P. W.LucasMinniti, D.D.MinnitiKamble, A.A.KambleKaplan, D. L.D. L.KaplanCross, N.N.CrossDekany, I.I.DekanyIvanov, V. D.V. D.IvanovKurtev, R.R.KurtevSaito, R. K.R. K.SaitoSmith, L. C.L. C.SmithCatelan, M.M.CatelanMASETTI, NICOLANICOLAMASETTIToledo, I.I.ToledoHempel, M.M.HempelThompson, M. A.M. A.ThompsonContreras Peña, C.C.Contreras PeñaForbrich, J.J.ForbrichKrause, M.M.KrauseDale, J.J.DaleBorissova, J.J.BorissovaEmerson, J.J.Emerson2021-08-272021-08-2720200035-8711http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/30987A search of the first Data Release of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) Survey discovered the exceptionally red transient VVV-WIT-01 (H - K<SUB>s</SUB> = 5.2). It peaked before March 2010, then faded by ˜9.5 mag over the following 2 yr. The 1.6-22 μm spectral energy distribution in March 2010 was well fit by a highly obscured blackbody with T ˜ 1000 K and A_{K_s} ˜ 6.6 mag. The source is projected against the Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) SDC G331.062-0.294. The chance projection probability is small for any single event (p ≈ 0.01-0.02), which suggests a physical association, e.g. a collision between low mass protostars. However, blackbody emission at T ˜ 1000 K is common in classical novae (especially CO novae) at the infrared peak in the light curve due to condensation of dust ˜30-60 d after the explosion. Radio follow-up with the Australia Telescope Compact Array detected a fading continuum source with properties consistent with a classical nova but probably inconsistent with colliding protostars. Considering all VVV transients that could have been projected against a catalogued IRDC raises the probability of a chance association to p = 0.13-0.24. After weighing several options, it appears likely that VVV-WIT-01 was a classical nova event located behind an IRDC....STAMPAenArticle10.1093/mnras/staa155https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/492/4/4847/57099372020MNRAS.492.4847LFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICAERC sectors::Physical Sciences and Engineering::PE9 Universe sciences: astro-physics/chemistry/biology; solar systems; stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, planetary systems, cosmology, space science, instrumentation