The mysterious eruption of V838 Mon

V838 Mon is marking one of the most mysterious stellar outbursts on record. The spectral energy distribution of the progenitor resembles an under-luminous F main sequence star (at V =1 5:6 mag), that erupted into a cool supergiant following a complex and multi-maxima lightcurve (peaking at V =6 :7 mag). The outburst spectrum show BaII, LiI and lines of several s elements, with wide P-Cyg proles and a moderate and retracing emission in the Balmer lines. A light-echo discovered expanding around the object helped to constrain the distance (d = 790 30 pc), providing MV =+ 4:45 in quiescence and MV = 4:35 at optical maximum (somewhat dependent on the still uncertain EB V =0 :5 reddening). The general outburst trend is toward lower temperatures and larger luminosities, and continuing so at the time of writing. The object properties conflict with a classication within already existing categories: the progenitor was not on a post-AGB track and thus the similarities with the born-again AGB stars FG Sge, V605 Aql and Sakurai's object are limited to the cool giant spectrum at maximum; the cool spectrum, the moderate wind velocity (500 km s 1 and progressively reducing) and the monotonic decreasing of the low ionization condition argues against a classical nova scenario. The closest similarity is with a star that erupted into an M-type supergiant discovered in M 31 by Rich et al. (1989), that became however much brighter by peaking at MV = 9:95, and with V4332 Sgr that too erupted into an M-type giant (Martini et al. 1999) and that attained a lower luminosity, closer to that of V838 Mon. M 31-RedVar, V4332 Sgr and V838 Mon could be all manifestations of a new class of astronomical objects.