It's also extremely bright in total luminosity across the spectrum (including infrared) - 100,000x as bright as the Sun. Other similar objects have been seen as supernova sources in other galaxies, suggesting they are massive stars shrouded in self-produced dust which blocks visible light but lets IR through. If this is the case, various models suggest we should see the dust around this thing clear in decades to centuries - or a supernova. You can bet people are watching it closely though...