A&A 433, 659–669 (2005) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20040396 & c ESO 2005 Astrophysics Metallicities of the β Cephei stars from low-resolution ultraviolet spectra E. Niemczura and J. Daszynska-Daszkiewicz´ Astronomical Institute, Wrocław University, ul. Kopernika 11, 51-622 Wrocław, Poland e-mail:
[email protected] Received 5 March 2004 / Accepted 22 November 2004 Abstract. We derive basic stellar parameters (angular diameters, effective temperatures, metallicities) and interstellar reddening for all β Cephei stars observed during the IUE satellite mission, including those belonging to three open clusters. The parameters are derived by means of an algorithmic procedure of fitting theoretical flux distributions to the low-resolution IUE spectra and ground-based spectrophotometric observations. Since the metallicity has a special importance for pulsating B-type stars, we focus our attention in particular on this parameter. Key words. stars: early-type – stars: abundances – stars: variables: general 1. Introduction In this paper we analyze the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) data combined with ground-based spectrophotomet- β Cephei variables are a well-known group of early B-type ric observations of β Cephei stars. The ultraviolet (UV) part pulsating stars. Their pulsations are driven by the classical of the spectra of main-sequence B-type stars is very rich in κ-mechanism, operating in the layer of the metal opacity bump lines of the iron-group elements. Because the greatest amount ≈ × 5 at T 2 10 K caused by the large number of absorption of energy for these objects is emitted in the spectral region be- lines of the iron-group elements.