We have carried out a multiwavelength observational campaign demonstrating
some of the remarkable properties of the infrared-bright variable star BP Psc.
Surrounded by a compact dusty, gaseous disk, this little-studied late-G (or
early-K) type star emits about 75% of its detected energy flux at infrared
wavelengths. Evidence for accretion of gas in conjunction with narrow bi-polar
jets and Herbig-Haro objects is apparently consistent with classification of BP
Psc as a pre-main sequence star, as postulated in most previous studies. If
young, then BP Psc would be one of the nearest and oldest known classical T
Tauri stars. However, such an evolutionary classification encounters various
problems that are absent or much less severe if BP Psc is instead a luminosity
class III post-main sequence star. In this case, it would be the first known
example of a first ascent giant surrounded by a massive molecular disk with
accompanying rapid gas accretion and prominent jets and HH objects. In this
model, the genesis of the massive dusty gaseous disk could be a consequence of
the envelopment of a low mass companion star. Properties in the disk may be
conducive to the current formation of planets, a gigayear or more after the
formation of BP Psc itself.Comment: Accepted for Astrophysical Journal New version with minor changes:
includes fixing a typo on the 3rd line of the paragraph that follows Equa 4
and adding a new reference (Nordhaus and Blackman 2006