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Optical spectroscopy of X-Mega targets - V. The spectroscopic binary HD 93161 A and its visual companion HD 93161 B*
We present the analysis of an extensive set of high-resolutionspectroscopic observations of HD 93161, a visual binary with aseparation of 2 arcsec. HD 93161 A is a spectroscopic binary, with bothcomponents clearly detected throughout the orbit. The primary star ismost probably of spectral type O8V, while the secondary is likely anO9V. We obtain the first orbital solution for this system, characterizedby a period of 8.566 +/- 0.004 d. The minimum masses of the primary andsecondary stars are 22.2 +/- 0.6 and 17.0 +/- 0.4 Msolar,respectively. These values are quite large, suggesting a highinclination of the orbit. The second object, HD 93161 B, displays anO6.5V(f) spectral type and is thus slightly hotter than its neighbour.This star is at first sight single but presents radial velocityvariations. Finally, we study HD 93161 in the X-ray domain. Nosignificant variability is detected. The X-ray spectrum is welldescribed by a 2T model with kT1~ 0.3 keV and kT2~0.7 keV. The X-ray luminosity is rather moderate, without any largeemission excess imputable to a wind interaction.
| The origin of massive O-type field stars: II. Field O stars as runaways
In two papers we try to confirm that all Galactic high-mass stars areformed in a cluster environment, by excluding that O-type stars found inthe Galactic field actually formed there. In de Wit et al. (2004) wepresented deep K-band imaging of 5 arcmin fields centred on 43 massiveO-type field stars that revealed that the large majority of theseobjects are single objects. In this contribution we explore thepossibility that the field O stars are dynamically ejected from youngclusters, by investigating their peculiar space velocity distribution,their distance from the Galactic plane, and their spatial vicinity toknown young stellar clusters. We (re-)identify 22 field O-type stars ascandidate runaway OB-stars. The statistics show that 4 ± 2% ofall O-type stars with V<8m can be considered as formedoutside a cluster environment. Most are spectroscopically singleobjects, some are visual binaries. The derived percentage for O-typestars that form isolated in the field based on our statistical analysesis in agreement with what is expected from calculations adopting auniversal cluster richness distribution with power index of β= 1.7,assuming that the cluster richness distribution is continuous down tothe smallest clusters containing one single star.
| A Galactic O Star Catalog
We have produced a catalog of 378 Galactic O stars with accuratespectral classifications that is complete for V<8 but includes manyfainter stars. The catalog provides cross-identifications with othersources; coordinates (obtained in most cases from Tycho-2 data);astrometric distances for 24 of the nearest stars; optical (Tycho-2,Johnson, and Strömgren) and NIR photometry; group membership,runaway character, and multiplicity information; and a Web-based versionwith links to on-line services.
| On the Hipparcos parallaxes of O stars
We compare the absolute visual magnitude of the majority of bright Ostars in the sky as predicted from their spectral type with the absolutemagnitude calculated from their apparent magnitude and the Hipparcosparallax. We find that many stars appear to be much fainter thanexpected, up to five magnitudes. We find no evidence for a correlationbetween magnitude differences and the stellar rotational velocity assuggested for OB stars by Lamers et al. (1997, A&A, 325, L25), whosesmall sample of stars is partly included in ours. Instead, by means of asimulation we show how these differences arise naturally from the largedistances at which O stars are located, and the level of precision ofthe parallax measurements achieved by Hipparcos. Straightforwardlyderiving a distance from the Hipparcos parallax yields reliable resultsfor one or two O stars only. We discuss several types of bias reportedin the literature in connection with parallax samples (Lutz-Kelker,Malmquist) and investigate how they affect the O star sample. Inaddition, we test three absolute magnitude calibrations from theliterature (Schmidt-Kaler et al. 1982, Landolt-Börnstein; Howarth& Prinja 1989, ApJS, 69, 527; Vacca et al. 1996, ApJ, 460, 914) andfind that they are consistent with the Hipparcos measurements. AlthoughO stars conform nicely to the simulation, we notice that some B stars inthe sample of \citeauthor{La97} have a magnitude difference larger thanexpected.
| The origin of massive O-type field stars. I. A search for clusters
We present a study aimed at clarifying the birthplace for 43 massiveO-type field stars. In this first paper we present the observationalpart: a search for stellar clusters near the target stars. We derivestellar density maps at two different resolving scales, viz. 0.25pc and 1.0 pc from NTT and TNG imaging and the 2MASS catalogue.These scales are typical for cluster sizes. The main result is that thelarge majority of the O-type field population are isolated stars: only12% (5 out of 43) of the O-type field stars is found to harbour asmall-scale stellar cluster. We review the literature and aim atcharacterizing the stellar field of each O-type field star with theemphasis on star formation and the presence of known young stellarclusters. An analysis of the result of this paper and a discussion ofthe O-type field population as products of a dynamical ejection event ispresented in an accompanying paper.Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory,Chile, and at the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) operated onthe island of La Palma by the Centro Galileo Galilei of the CNAA(Consorzio Nazionale per l'Astronomia e l'Astrofisica) at the SpanishObservatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisicade Canarias.Table 2 and Figs. 4 to 17 are available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org
| A Method for Simultaneous Determination of AV and R and Applications
A method for the simultaneous determination of the interstellarextinction (AV) and of the ratio of total to selectiveextinction (R), derived from the 1989 Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathisfitting of the interstellar extinction law, is presented and applied toa set of 1900 color excesses derived from observations of stars inUBVRIJHKL. The method is used to study the stability of AVand R within selected regions in Perseus, Scorpius, Monoceros, Orion,Sagittarius, Ophiuchus, Carina, and Serpens. Analysis shows that R isapproximately constant and peculiar to each sector, with mean valuesthat vary from 3.2 in Perseus to 5.6 in Ophiuchus. These results aresimilar to published values by Aiello et al., He et al., Vrba &Rydgren, O'Donnell, and Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathis.
| The total-to-selective extinction ratio determined from near IR photometry of OB stars
The paper presents an extensive list of the total to selectiveextinction ratios R calculated from the infrared magnitudes of 597 O andB stars using the extrapolation method. The IR magnitudes of these starswere taken from the literature. The IR colour excesses are determinedwith the aid of "artificial standards" - Wegner (1994). The individualand mean values of total to selective extinction ratios R differ in mostcases from the average value R=3.10 +/-0.05 - Wegner (1993) in differentOB associations. The relation between total to selective extinctionratios R determined in this paper and those calculated using the "methodof variable extinction" and the Cardelli et al. (1989) formulae isdiscussed. The R values presented in this paper can be used to determineindividual absolute magnitudes of reddened OB stars with knowntrigonometric parallaxes.
| The population of massive X-ray binaries. I. The Large Magellanic Cloud
We present high resolution blue spectroscopy of an almost completesample of optical counterparts to massive X-ray binaries in the LargeMagellanic Cloud (LMC) and derive their spectral classification. We findan spectral type B0II for the optical counterpart to RXJ0532.5-6551, confirming it as the first wind-fed massiveX-ray binary in the LMC. We also confirm the Be nature of the proposedcounterpart to RX J0535.0-6700. The proposed opticalcounterpart to RX J0531.5-6518 is a B2V star withsigns of emission in the Balmer lines. In total, we give accuratespectral types for 14 counterparts. We find that the overall observedpopulation of massive X-ray binaries in the LMC has a distribution notvery different from the observed Galactic population and we discussdifferent selection effects affecting our knowledge of this population.The spectral distribution of the Be/X-ray binary population is alsorather similar to the Galactic one. This distribution implies thatBe/X-ray binaries must have preferentially formed from moderatelymassive binaries undergoing semi-conservative evolution. The observationof several Be/X-ray binaries with large eccentricities implies then theexistence of supernova kicks. Based on observations collected at theEuropean Southern Observatory, Chile (ESO 64.H-0059, ESO 66.D-0299) andthe South African Astronomical Observatory.
| On the Correlation between CO Absorption and Far-Ultraviolet Nonlinear Extinction toward Galactic OB Stars
A sample of 59 sight lines to reddened Galactic OB stars was examinedfor correlations of the strength of the CO Fourth Positive(A1Π-X1Σ+) absorption bandsystem with the ultraviolet interstellar extinction curve parameters. Weused archival high-dispersion NEWSIPS IUE spectra to measure the COabsorption for comparison with parametric fits of the extinction curvesfrom the literature. A strong correlation with the nonlinear far-UVcurvature term was found with greater absorption, normalized to E(B-V),being associated with more curvature. A weaker trend with the linearextinction term was also found. Mechanisms for enhancing CO in dustenvironments exhibiting high nonlinear curvature are discussed.
| The Be/X-ray transient V0332+53: evidence for a tilt between the orbit and the equatorial plane?
We present optical and infrared observations of BQ Cam, the opticalcounterpart to the Be/X-ray transient system V0332+53. BQ Cam is shownto be an O8-9Ve star, which places V0332+53 at a distance of ~7kpc.Hα spectroscopy and infrared photometry are used to discuss theevolution of the circumstellar envelope. Owing to the low inclination ofthe system, parameters are strongly constrained. We find strong evidencefor a tilt of the orbital plane with respect to the circumstellar disc(presumably on the equatorial plane). Even though the periastrondistance is only ~10R_*, during the present quiescent state thecircumstellar disc does not extend to the distance of periastronpassage. Under these conditions, X-ray emission is effectively preventedby centrifugal inhibition of accretion. The circumstellar disc is shownto be optically thick at optical and infrared wavelengths, which,together with its small size, is taken as an indication of tidaltruncation.
| Classification of O Stars in the Yellow-Green: The Exciting Star VES 735
Acquiring data for spectral classification of heavily reddened starsusing traditional criteria in the blue-violet region of the spectrum canbe prohibitively time consuming using small to medium sized telescopes.One such star is the Vatican Observatory emission-line star VES 735,which we have found excites the H II region KR 140. In order to classifyVES 735, we have constructed an atlas of stellar spectra of O stars inthe yellow-green (4800-5420 Å). We calibrate spectral type versusthe line ratio He I lambda4922:He II lambda5411, showing that this ratioshould be useful for the classification of heavily reddened O starsassociated with H II regions. Application to VES 735 shows that thespectral type is O8.5. The absolute magnitude suggests luminosity classV. Comparison of the rate of emission of ionizing photons and thebolometric luminosity of VES 735, inferred from radio and infraredmeasurements of the KR 140 region, to recent stellar models givesconsistent evidence for a main-sequence star of mass 25 M_solar and ageless than a few million years with a covering factor 0.4-0.5 by thenebular material. Spectra taken in the red (6500-6700 Å) show thatthe stellar Hα emission is double-peaked about the systemicvelocity and slightly variable. Hβ is in absorption, so that theemission-line classification is ``(e)''. However, unlike the case of themore well-known O(e) star zeta Oph, the emission from VES 735 appears tobe long-lived rather than episodic.
| PZ Mon - An Active Evolved Star
An Hipparcos parallax and new high-resolution spectra show that PZ Mon,long considered a spotted UV Ceti flare star, is actually a distantactive giant (K1III+?), probably an RS CVn, with km s
| UBV beta Database for Case-Hamburg Northern and Southern Luminous Stars
A database of photoelectric UBV beta photometry for stars listed in theCase-Hamburg northern and southern Milky Way luminous stars surveys hasbeen compiled from the original research literature. Consisting of over16,000 observations of some 7300 stars from over 500 sources, thisdatabase constitutes the most complete compilation of such photometryavailable for intrinsically luminous stars around the Galactic plane.Over 5000 stars listed in the Case-Hamburg surveys still lackfundamental photometric data.
| Near-Infrared H-Band Features in Late O and B Stars
We examine the spectral characteristics of normal OB stars withhigh-signal-to-noise ratio (>120) H-band (1.6 μm) spectra at aresolution of 2000. We find that several atomic lines vary smoothly withstellar temperature, as first shown by Blum et al. However, we find apreviously unreported, significant variation in the strength of some ofthese lines with stellar luminosity. B supergiant stars show stronger Hei and weaker Br 11 as compared with low-luminosity B dwarf stars of thesame spectral class. It is for this reason that luminosity class mustalso be determined to obtain an accurate spectral type for a given starusing H-band spectra. We suggest a method for estimating the spectraltype and luminosity of an OB star over the wavelength range from 1.66 to1.72 μm using hydrogen Br 11 at 1.681 mum, He i at 1.700 mum, and Heii at 1.693 mum. The use of the near-infrared spectral range forclassification has obvious advantages over optical classification whenapplied to heavily reddened stars, such as in star-forming regions ordeeply embedded lines of sight within the plane of the Galaxy, such asthe Galactic center. Furthermore, the H band is less likely to becontaminated by infrared excess emission, which is frequently seenaround massive young stellar objects beyond 2 mum.
| ICCD speckle observations of binary stars. XIX - an astrometric/spectroscopic survey of O stars
We present the results of a speckle interferometric survey made with theCHARA speckle camera and 4 m class telescopes of Galactic O-type starswith V less than 8. We can detect with the speckle camera binaries inthe angular separation range 0.035-1.5 arcsec with delta M less than 3,and we have discovered 15 binaries among 227 O-type systems. We combinedour results on visual binaries with measurements of wider pairs from theWashington Double Star Catalog and fainter pairs from the HipparcosCatalog, and we made a literature survey of the spectroscopic binariesamong the sample. We then investigated the overall binary frequency ofthe sample and the orbital characteristics of the known binaries.Binaries are common among O stars in clusters and associations but lessso among field and especially runaway stars. There are many triplesystems among the speckle binaries, and we discuss their possible rolein the ejection of stars from clusters. The period distribution of thebinaries is bimodal in log P, but we suggest that binaries with periodsof years and decades may eventually be found to fill the gap. The massratio distribution of the visual binaries increases toward lower massratios, but low mass ratio companions are rare among close,spectroscopic binaries. We present distributions of the eccentricity andlongitude of periastron for spectroscopic binaries with ellipticalorbits, and we find strong evidence of a bias in the longitude ofperiastron distribution.
| Cross-correlation characteristics of OB stars from IUE spectroscopy
We present a catalogue of homogeneous measures of the linewidthparameter, v_esin i, for 373 O-type stars and early B supergiants(including the separate components of 25 binary and three triplesystems), produced by cross-correlating high-resolution,short-wavelength IUE spectra against a `template' spectrum of tauSco. Wealso tabulate terminal velocities. There are no O supergiants in oursample with v_esin i<65 km s^-1, and only one supergiant earlier thanB5 has v_esin i<50 km s^-1, confirming that an important linebroadening mechanism in addition to rotation must be present in theseobjects. A calibration of the area under the cross-correlation peakagainst spectral type is used to obtain estimates of continuum intensityratios of the components in 28 spectroscopically binary or multiplesystems. At least seven SB2 systems show evidence for the `Struve-Sahadeeffect', a systematic variation in relative line strength as a functionof orbital phase. The stellar wind profiles of the most rapid rotator inour sample, the O9III:n* star HD 191423 (v_esin i=436km s^-1), show itto have a `wind-compressed disc' similar to that of HD 93521; this starand other rapid rotators are good candidates for studies of non-radialpulsation.
| The Young Massive Stellar Objects of M17
We present a multiwavelength spectroscopic survey that reveals theionizing cluster of M17 and uncovers a population of young stellarobjects (YSOs) of high mass (M ~ 5-20 Mȯ). The masses of the starshave been determined fairly accurately through optical or near-infraredspectral classification. We find strong circumstantial evidence fordisks around the massive YSOs in the following forms: near-infraredexcess, optical veiling, CO band-head emission, and/or Pa deltaemission. We find a direct correlation between those YSOs that show COband-head emission at 2.3 mu m and those stars in our survey that showPa delta emission; in three of the four Pa delta emission stars thisline is double peaked (suggestive of a bipolar wind or a rotating diskor envelope). Our data suggest that circumstellar material, possibly inthe form of a disk, is prevalent among very young objects of fairly highmass. Based on considerations of disk lifetimes in other young clusters,the M17 cluster appears to be very young, perhaps less than 1 Myr. Wehave also identified at least nine O stars and a couple oflate-O/early-B stars, most behind more than 8 mag of visible extinctionusing either optical or near-infrared spectral types. Several stars haveinferred masses in excess of 60 Mȯ, and they look to be very closeto the predicted zero-age main sequence with an estimated age of about 1Myr, consistent with the age of the massive YSOs in the cluster. We haveused the O stars to determine the distance to M17, which assumes thestars to lie on the zero-age main sequence (1300^{+400}_{-200} pc).While we attempt to determine an initial mass function for the cluster,it is incomplete even at high masses because of regions of extremelyhigh extinction (AV > 20) in the cluster. We have also used the M17 Ostars to study the dust properties in the local cloud and the behaviorof the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) along this sight line, over theextinction range of AV = 3-10. The DIBs over this extinction range showlittle change in spectral shape nor a significant increase in strength.We suggest the features are already saturated at small AV, or thematerial local to M17, where the increased extinction is being traced,does not contain the carriers of the DIB feature.
| New Perspectives on AX Monocerotis
AX Moncerotis is a 232d, noneclipsing, interacting binary star thatconsists of a K giant, a Be-like giant, and large amounts ofcircumstellar material. The K star is almost certainly a synchronousrotator and is probably in contact with its critical lobe. The Be starwas believed to be a rapid rotator based on extremely wide absorptionlines, but new spectra show that these lines arise from thecircumstellar environment. Hydrogen emission, also circumstellar, ismany times stronger than the continuum. Near-ultraviolet light curvesexhibit a 0.5 mag dip near phase 0.75, but there is no such variabilityat longer wavelengths. Gas flow trajectories from the cusp of the K startoward the Be star provide a simple explanation for the photometric andspectroscopic behavior. We may have found a decreasing orbital period,but more data are necessary to confirm this result. We present severalmodels for AX Mon based on (1) new and archival visible photometry, (2)archival ultraviolet spectroscopy, (3) new and archival visiblespectroscopy, (4) new visible polarimetry, and (5) new radio photometry.Future observations, including optical interferometry, are proposed.
| A Spectral Atlas of Hot, Luminous Stars at 2 Microns
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996ApJS..107..281H&db_key=AST
| Projected Rotational Velocities of O-Type Stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996ApJ...463..737P&db_key=AST
| The Lyman-Continuum Fluxes and Stellar Parameters of O and Early B-Type Stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996ApJ...460..914V&db_key=AST
| Observational manifestations of early mixing in B and O type stars.
Not Available
| Metal line strengths of blue stragglers towards the young galactic association Perseus OB1.
We present equivalent width measurements of lines of HeI, CIII, NIII,OII, MgII and SiIV from high resolution optical spectra of eight bluestragglers towards the young galactic association Perseus OB1, togetherwith similar data from ultraviolet spectra. We have carried outintercomparisons of the observed line strengths between target stars ofsimilar effective temperatures, and comparisons between the target starsand data for other O-type stars, in order to search for possibleabundance anomalies in our target stars. We find firm evidence that twostars, HD 12323 and HD 13268, exhibit CNO bicycle processed material attheir surfaces, and we outline evolutionary scenarios to explain thisphenomenon. One further star, HD 12993, also shows marginal evidence forprocessed material at its surface. There is no evidence for abundanceanomalies in the five remaining stars, and we consider that they may notbe association members. Hence their identification as blue stragglers isin doubt.
| Terminal Velocities and the Bistability of Stellar Winds
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1995ApJ...455..269L&db_key=AST
| Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
| Intrinsic colour indices of O- and B- type stars in the Vilnius photometric system.
Not Available
| An atlas of ultraviolet P Cygni profiles
We have selected spectra of 232 stars from the International UltravioletExplorer (IUE) archives for inclusion in an atlas intended for varioususes but tailored especially for the study of stellar winds. The atlascovers the range in spectral types from O3 to F8. The full atlas coversthe reduced and normalized high resolution spectra from the IUE long-and short-wavelength spectrographs. Here we discuss the selection of thestars and the data reduction, and we present in velocity units theprofiles of lines formed in the stellar winds. The selected lines covera wide range of ionizations, allowing a comparison of the profiles fromdifferent ions in the wind of each star and a comparison of thedifferent wind lines as a function spectral type and luminosity. We alsopresent the basic data on the program stars to facilitate study of thedependence of wind features on stellar parameters such as luminosity,temperature, escape velocity, and v sin i. We provide an overview of thecharacteristic behavior of the wind lines in the H-R diagram. Thecomplete spectra are available in digital form through the NASAAstrophysics Data System (ADS). We offer a description of the electronicdatabase that is available through the ADS and guidelines for obtainingaccess to that database.
| An IUE survey of interstellar H I LY alpha absorption. 1: Column densities
We measure Galactic interstellar neutral hydrogen column densities byanalyzing archival interstellar Ly alpha absorption line data toward 554B2 and hotter stars observed at high resolution with the IUE satellite.This study more than doubles the number of lines of sight with measuresof N(H I) based on Ly alpha. We have included the scattered lightbackground correction algorithm of Bianchi and Bohlin in our datareduction. We use the correlation between the Balmer discontinuity(c1) index and the stellar Ly alpha absorption in order toassess the effects of stellar Ly alpha contamination. Approximately 40%of the B stars with measured (c1) index, exhibit seriousstellar Ly alpha contamination. One table contains the derived values ofthe interstellar N(H I) for 393 stars with at most small amounts ofstellar contamination. Another lists the observed values of total N(H I)for 161 stars with suspected stellar Ly alpha contamination and/oruncertain stellar parameters.
| Spectroscopy and photometry of companion stars 2 and 3 to supernova 1987A
The spectra of both close companion stars to SN 1987A in the LargeMagellanic Cloud (LMC) have been classified as type B2 from blue-violetdigital data; the H-gamma equivalent width of Star 2 and the absolutevisual magnitudes of both stars correspond to giant luminosity classes.The near-ultraviolet, visual, and infrared colors of Star 2 are found tobe consistent with the classification, but Star 3 exhibits both UV andIR excesses as well as variable magnitudes, which are consistent with aBe object, as recently reported from the presence of broad H-alphaemission. Paradoxically, Star 2 has relatively broad, shallow absorptionlines indicative of a moderately rapid rotator, whereas Star 3 hassharper lines, indicating that it is viewed pole-on. The derivedevolutionary ages of the companions correspond roughly to coevality withSk--69 deg 202, the B3 I progenitor of SN 1987A, but the discrepanciesand uncertainties in current Teff, Mbolcalibrations unfortunately render this conclusion somewhat indefinite.
| Synthetic UV Lines of Si IV, C IV, and He II from a Population of Massive Stars in Starburst Galaxies
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1993ApJ...418..749R&db_key=AST
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Monoceros |
| Right ascension: | 06h42m40.55s |
| Declination: | +01°42'58.2" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 7.958 |
| Distance: | 10000000 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -0.6 |
| Proper motion Dec: | 0.3 |
| B-T magnitude: | 8.039 |
| V-T magnitude: | 7.965 |
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