INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY OF SAKURAIS OBJECT

We present near (ground-based) and far (ISO) infrared spectroscopy of Sakurai's object. As in the case of the optical spectrum, between 1996 and 1997 April the near-infrared spectrum underwent a dramatic change to later spectral type, and there is some evidence that the spectrum continued to evolve during 1997, Molecular features of carbon-bearing molecules (CN, C-2, CO) - corresponding to those seen in cool carbon s tars - are now prominent in the 1-2.5 mu m range, and the C-12/C-13 ra tio is low. The ISO data demonstrate the presence of hot circumstellar dust at a temperature of similar to 680 K, If the dust shell is optic ally thin, the dust mass is similar to 2.8 x 10(-8) M..