The 2018 Census of Luminous Blue Variables
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Luminous Blue Variables
Review Luminous Blue Variables Kerstin Weis 1* and Dominik J. Bomans 1,2,3 1 Astronomical Institute, Faculty for Physics and Astronomy, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany 2 Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany 3 Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics (RAPP) Center, 44801 Bochum, Germany Received: 29 October 2019; Accepted: 18 February 2020; Published: 29 February 2020 Abstract: Luminous Blue Variables are massive evolved stars, here we introduce this outstanding class of objects. Described are the specific characteristics, the evolutionary state and what they are connected to other phases and types of massive stars. Our current knowledge of LBVs is limited by the fact that in comparison to other stellar classes and phases only a few “true” LBVs are known. This results from the lack of a unique, fast and always reliable identification scheme for LBVs. It literally takes time to get a true classification of a LBV. In addition the short duration of the LBV phase makes it even harder to catch and identify a star as LBV. We summarize here what is known so far, give an overview of the LBV population and the list of LBV host galaxies. LBV are clearly an important and still not fully understood phase in the live of (very) massive stars, especially due to the large and time variable mass loss during the LBV phase. We like to emphasize again the problem how to clearly identify LBV and that there are more than just one type of LBVs: The giant eruption LBVs or h Car analogs and the S Dor cycle LBVs. -
Naming the Extrasolar Planets
Naming the extrasolar planets W. Lyra Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, K¨onigstuhl 17, 69177, Heidelberg, Germany [email protected] Abstract and OGLE-TR-182 b, which does not help educators convey the message that these planets are quite similar to Jupiter. Extrasolar planets are not named and are referred to only In stark contrast, the sentence“planet Apollo is a gas giant by their assigned scientific designation. The reason given like Jupiter” is heavily - yet invisibly - coated with Coper- by the IAU to not name the planets is that it is consid- nicanism. ered impractical as planets are expected to be common. I One reason given by the IAU for not considering naming advance some reasons as to why this logic is flawed, and sug- the extrasolar planets is that it is a task deemed impractical. gest names for the 403 extrasolar planet candidates known One source is quoted as having said “if planets are found to as of Oct 2009. The names follow a scheme of association occur very frequently in the Universe, a system of individual with the constellation that the host star pertains to, and names for planets might well rapidly be found equally im- therefore are mostly drawn from Roman-Greek mythology. practicable as it is for stars, as planet discoveries progress.” Other mythologies may also be used given that a suitable 1. This leads to a second argument. It is indeed impractical association is established. to name all stars. But some stars are named nonetheless. In fact, all other classes of astronomical bodies are named. -
Rotating Wolf-Rayet Stars in a Post RSG/LBV Phase an Evolutionary Channel Towards Long-Duration Grbs?
A&A 547, A83 (2012) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201118664 & c ESO 2012 Astrophysics Rotating Wolf-Rayet stars in a post RSG/LBV phase An evolutionary channel towards long-duration GRBs? G. Gräfener1,J.S.Vink1, T. J. Harries2, and N. Langer3 1 Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG, UK 2 School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK 3 Argelander-Institut für Astronomie der Universität Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany Received 16 December 2011 / Accepted 3 October 2012 ABSTRACT Context. Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars with fast rotating cores are thought to be the direct progenitors of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs). A well accepted evolutionary channel towards LGRBs is chemically-homogeneous evolution at low metallicities, which completely avoids a red supergiant (RSG), or luminous blue variable (LBV) phase. On the other hand, strong absorption features with velocities of several hundred km s−1 have been found in some LGRB afterglow spectra (GRB 020813 and GRB 021004), which have been attributed to dense circumstellar (CS) material that has been ejected in a previous RSG or LBV phase, and is interacting with a fast WR-type stellar wind. Aims. Here we investigate the properties of Galactic WR stars and their environment to identify similar evolutionary channels that may lead to the formation of LGRBs. Methods. We compile available information on the spectropolarimetric properties of 29 WR stars, the presence of CS ejecta for 172 WR stars, and the CS velocities in the environment of 34 WR stars in the Galaxy. -
The Galactic WC and WO Stars the Impact of Revised Distances from Gaia DR2 and Their Role As Massive Black Hole Progenitors
Astronomy & Astrophysics manuscript no. paper c ESO 2019 January 11, 2019 The Galactic WC and WO stars The impact of revised distances from Gaia DR2 and their role as massive black hole progenitors A.A.C. Sander1; 2, W.-R. Hamann1, H. Todt1, R. Hainich1, T. Shenar1; 3, V. Ramachandran1, and L.M. Oskinova1 1 Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany e-mail: [email protected] 2 Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG, Northern Ireland 3 Institute of Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, 3001, Leuven, Belgium Received 25 June 2018 / Accepted 26 November 2018 ABSTRACT Wolf-Rayet stars of the carbon sequence (WC stars) are an important cornerstone in the late evolution of massive stars before their core collapse. As core-helium burning, hydrogen-free objects with huge mass-loss, they are likely the last observable stage before collapse and thus promising progenitor candidates for type Ib/c supernovae. Their strong mass-loss furthermore provides challenges and constraints to the theory of radiatively driven winds. Thus, the determination of the WC star parameters is of major importance for several astrophysical fields. With Gaia DR2, for the first time parallaxes for a large sample of Galactic WC stars are available, removing major uncertainties inherent to earlier studies. In this work, we re-examine a previously studied sample of WC stars to derive key properties of the Galactic WC population. All quantities depending on the distance are updated, while the underlying spectral analyzes remain untouched. -
Urania Nr 5/2001
Eta Carinae To zdjęcie mgławicy otaczającej gwiazdę // Carinae uzyskano za po mocą telskopu kosmicznego Hubble a (K. Davidson i J. Mors). Porównując je z innymi zdjęciami, a w szczególności z obrazem wyko nanym 17 miesięcy wcześniej, Auto rzy stwierdzili rozprężanie się mgła wicy z szybkością ok. 2,5 min km/h, co prowadzi do wniosku, że rozpo częła ona swe istnienie około 150 lat temu. To bardzo ciekawy i intrygujący wynik. Otóż największy znany roz błysk )j Carinae miał miejsce w roku 1840. Wtedy gwiazda ta stała się naj jaśniejszą gwiazdą południowego nie ba i jasność jej przez krótki czas znacznie przewyższała blask gwiaz dy Canopus. Jednak pyłowy dysk ob serwowany wokół)/ Carinae wydaje się być znacznie młodszy - jego wiek (ekspansji) jest oceniany na 100 lat, co może znaczyć, że powstał w cza sie innego, mniejszego wybuchu ob serwowanego w roku 1890. Więcej na temat tego intrygują cego obiektu przeczytać można we wnątrz numeru, w artykule poświę conym tej gwieździe. NGC 6537 Obserwacje przeprowadzone teleskopem Hubble’a pokazały istnienie wielkich falowych struktur w mgławicy Czerwonego Pająka (NGC 6537) w gwiazdozbiorze Strzelca.Ta gorąca i „wietrzna” mgławica powstała wokół jednej z najgorętszych gwiazd Wszech świata, której wiatr gwiazdowy wiejący z prędkością 2000-4500 kilometrów na sekundę wytwarza fale o wysokości 100 miliardów kilometrów. Sama mgławica rozszerza się z szybkością 300 km/s. Jest też ona wyjątkowo gorąca — ok. 10000 K. Sama gwiazda, która utworzyła mgławicę, jest obecnie białym karłem i musi mieć temperaturę nie niższą niż pół miliona stopni — jest tak gorąca, że nie widać jej w obszarach uzyskanych teleskopem Hubble’a, a świeci głównie w promieniowaniu X. -
Information Bulletin on Variable Stars
COMMISSIONS AND OF THE I A U INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS Nos November July EDITORS L SZABADOS K OLAH TECHNICAL EDITOR A HOLL TYPESETTING K ORI ADMINISTRATION Zs KOVARI EDITORIAL BOARD L A BALONA M BREGER E BUDDING M deGROOT E GUINAN D S HALL P HARMANEC M JERZYKIEWICZ K C LEUNG M RODONO N N SAMUS J SMAK C STERKEN Chair H BUDAPEST XI I Box HUNGARY URL httpwwwkonkolyhuIBVSIBVShtml HU ISSN COPYRIGHT NOTICE IBVS is published on b ehalf of the th and nd Commissions of the IAU by the Konkoly Observatory Budap est Hungary Individual issues could b e downloaded for scientic and educational purp oses free of charge Bibliographic information of the recent issues could b e entered to indexing sys tems No IBVS issues may b e stored in a public retrieval system in any form or by any means electronic or otherwise without the prior written p ermission of the publishers Prior written p ermission of the publishers is required for entering IBVS issues to an electronic indexing or bibliographic system to o CONTENTS C STERKEN A JONES B VOS I ZEGELAAR AM van GENDEREN M de GROOT On the Cyclicity of the S Dor Phases in AG Carinae ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : J BOROVICKA L SAROUNOVA The Period and Lightcurve of NSV ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::: W LILLER AF JONES A New Very Long Period Variable Star in Norma ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::: EA KARITSKAYA VP GORANSKIJ Unusual Fading of V Cygni Cyg X in Early November ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -
The Massive Wolf-Rayet Binary LSS 1964 (=WR 29) II
A&A 506, 1269–1275 (2009) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200810112 & c ESO 2009 Astrophysics The massive Wolf-Rayet binary LSS 1964 (=WR 29) II. The V light curve R. C. Gamen1,2,, E. Fernández-Lajús1,2,†,V.S.Niemela‡, and R. H. Barbá3,4,§ 1 Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata, CONICET, Paseo del bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina 2 Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina e-mail: [email protected] 3 Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas de la Tierra y del Espacio, CONICET, Avda. España 1512 Sur, J5402DSP, San Juan, Argentina 4 Departamento de Física, Universidad de La Serena, Benavente 980, La Serena, Chile Received 2 May 2008 / Accepted 1 August 2009 ABSTRACT Context. WR 29 is a known WN7h+O double-lined binary system with a rather short period (3.164 days). Aims. We search for light variations to determine the inclination of the system and thus the absolute masses of both components. Methods. We observed photometrically the field of WR 29 between December, 2002, and February, 2006. Results. We find that the V light of WR 29 varies in phase with the spectroscopic period of 3.16412 days, presenting two minima corresponding to the conjunctions of the binary components. Numerical models fitted to the light curve indicate an orbital inclination ◦ of about 44 , and masses of 53 M and 42 M for the O- and WN-type components, respectively. Key words. stars: binaries: close – stars: binaries: eclipsing – stars: binaries: spectroscopic – stars: Wolf-Rayet 1. -
ESO Annual Report 2004 ESO Annual Report 2004 Presented to the Council by the Director General Dr
ESO Annual Report 2004 ESO Annual Report 2004 presented to the Council by the Director General Dr. Catherine Cesarsky View of La Silla from the 3.6-m telescope. ESO is the foremost intergovernmental European Science and Technology organi- sation in the field of ground-based as- trophysics. It is supported by eleven coun- tries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Created in 1962, ESO provides state-of- the-art research facilities to European astronomers and astrophysicists. In pur- suit of this task, ESO’s activities cover a wide spectrum including the design and construction of world-class ground-based observational facilities for the member- state scientists, large telescope projects, design of innovative scientific instruments, developing new and advanced techno- logies, furthering European co-operation and carrying out European educational programmes. ESO operates at three sites in the Ataca- ma desert region of Chile. The first site The VLT is a most unusual telescope, is at La Silla, a mountain 600 km north of based on the latest technology. It is not Santiago de Chile, at 2 400 m altitude. just one, but an array of 4 telescopes, It is equipped with several optical tele- each with a main mirror of 8.2-m diame- scopes with mirror diameters of up to ter. With one such telescope, images 3.6-metres. The 3.5-m New Technology of celestial objects as faint as magnitude Telescope (NTT) was the first in the 30 have been obtained in a one-hour ex- world to have a computer-controlled main posure. -
Ejections De Mati`Ere Par Les Astres : Des Étoiles Massives Aux Quasars
Universite´ de Liege` Faculte´ des Sciences Ejections de matiere` par les astres : des etoiles´ massives aux quasars par Damien HUTSEMEKERS Docteur en Sciences Chercheur Qualifie´ du FNRS Dissertation present´ ee´ en vue de l’obtention du grade d’Agreg´ e´ de l’Enseignement Superieur´ 2003 Illustration de couverture : la n´ebuleuse du Crabe, constitu´ee de gaz ´eject´e`agrande vitesse par l’explosion d’une ´etoile en supernova. Clich´eobtenu avec le VLT et FORS2, ESO, 1999. Table des matieres` Preface´ et remerciements 5 Introduction 7 Articles 21 I Les nebuleuses´ eject´ ees´ par les etoiles´ massives 23 1 HR Carinae : a Luminous Blue Variable surrounded by an arc-shaped nebula 25 2 The nature of the nebula associated with the Luminous Blue Variable star WRA751 37 3 A dusty nebula around the Luminous Blue Variable candidate HD168625 45 4 Evidence for violent ejection of nebulae from massive stars 57 5 Dust in LBV-type nebulae 63 II Quasars de type BAL et microlentilles gravitationnelles 73 6 The use of gravitational microlensing to scan the structureofBALQSOs 75 7 ESO & NOT photometric monitoring of the Cloverleaf quasar 89 8 Selective gravitational microlensing and line profile variations in the BAL quasar H1413+117 99 9 An optical time-delay for the lensed BAL quasar HE2149-2745 113 3 III Quasars de type BAL : polarisation 127 10 A procedure for deriving accurate linear polarimetric measurements 129 11 Optical polarization of 47 quasi-stellar objects : the data 137 12 Polarization properties of a sample of Broad Absorption Line and gravitatio- -
The Electric Sun Hypothesis
Basics of astrophysics revisited. II. Mass- luminosity- rotation relation for F, A, B, O and WR class stars Edgars Alksnis [email protected] Small volume statistics show, that luminosity of bright stars is proportional to their angular momentums of rotation when certain relation between stellar mass and stellar rotation speed is reached. Cause should be outside of standard stellar model. Concept allows strengthen hypotheses of 1) fast rotation of Wolf-Rayet stars and 2) low mass central black hole of the Milky Way. Keywords: mass-luminosity relation, stellar rotation, Wolf-Rayet stars, stellar angular momentum, Sagittarius A* mass, Sagittarius A* luminosity. In previous work (Alksnis, 2017) we have shown, that in slow rotating stars stellar luminosity is proportional to spin angular momentum of the star. This allows us to see, that there in fact are no stars outside of “main sequence” within stellar classes G, K and M. METHOD We have analyzed possible connection between stellar luminosity and stellar angular momentum in samples of most known F, A, B, O and WR class stars (tables 1-5). Stellar equatorial rotation speed (vsini) was used as main parameter of stellar rotation when possible. Several diverse data for one star were averaged. Zero stellar rotation speed was considered as an error and corresponding star has been not included in sample. RESULTS 2 F class star Relative Relative Luminosity, Relative M*R *eq mass, M radius, L rotation, L R eq HATP-6 1.29 1.46 3.55 2.950 2.28 α UMi B 1.39 1.38 3.90 38.573 26.18 Alpha Fornacis 1.33 -
Radiation-Driven Stellar Eruptions
galaxies Review Radiation-Driven Stellar Eruptions Kris Davidson Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota, 116 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-612-624-5711 Received: 20 December 2019; Accepted: 25 January 2020; Published: 5 February 2020 Abstract: Very massive stars occasionally expel material in colossal eruptions, driven by continuum radiation pressure rather than blast waves. Some of them rival supernovae in total radiative output, and the mass loss is crucial for subsequent evolution. Some are supernova impostors, including SN precursor outbursts, while others are true SN events shrouded by material that was ejected earlier. Luminous Blue Variable stars (LBV’s) are traditionally cited in relation with giant eruptions, though this connection is not well established. After four decades of research, the fundamental causes of giant eruptions and LBV events remain elusive. This review outlines the basic relevant physics, with a brief summary of essential observational facts. Reasons are described for the spectrum and emergent radiation temperature of an opaque outflow. Proposed mechanisms are noted for instabilities in the star’s photosphere, in its iron opacity peak zones, and in its central region. Various remarks and conjectures are mentioned, some of them relatively unfamiliar in the published literature. Keywords: Eddington Limit; eruption; supernova impostor; LBV; Luminous Blue Variable; stellar outflow; strange modes; iron opacity; bistability jump; inflation 1. Super-Eddington Events in Massive Stars Very massive stars lose much—and possibly most—of their mass in sporadic events driven by continuum radiation. This fact has dire consequences for any attempt to predict the star’s evolution. -
Transits of Mercury, 1605–2999 CE
Appendix A Transits of Mercury, 1605–2999 CE Date (TT) Int. Offset Date (TT) Int. Offset Date (TT) Int. Offset 1605 Nov 01.84 7.0 −0.884 2065 Nov 11.84 3.5 +0.187 2542 May 17.36 9.5 −0.716 1615 May 03.42 9.5 +0.493 2078 Nov 14.57 13.0 +0.695 2545 Nov 18.57 3.5 +0.331 1618 Nov 04.57 3.5 −0.364 2085 Nov 07.57 7.0 −0.742 2558 Nov 21.31 13.0 +0.841 1628 May 05.73 9.5 −0.601 2095 May 08.88 9.5 +0.326 2565 Nov 14.31 7.0 −0.599 1631 Nov 07.31 3.5 +0.150 2098 Nov 10.31 3.5 −0.222 2575 May 15.34 9.5 +0.157 1644 Nov 09.04 13.0 +0.661 2108 May 12.18 9.5 −0.763 2578 Nov 17.04 3.5 −0.078 1651 Nov 03.04 7.0 −0.774 2111 Nov 14.04 3.5 +0.292 2588 May 17.64 9.5 −0.932 1661 May 03.70 9.5 +0.277 2124 Nov 15.77 13.0 +0.803 2591 Nov 19.77 3.5 +0.438 1664 Nov 04.77 3.5 −0.258 2131 Nov 09.77 7.0 −0.634 2604 Nov 22.51 13.0 +0.947 1674 May 07.01 9.5 −0.816 2141 May 10.16 9.5 +0.114 2608 May 13.34 3.5 +1.010 1677 Nov 07.51 3.5 +0.256 2144 Nov 11.50 3.5 −0.116 2611 Nov 16.50 3.5 −0.490 1690 Nov 10.24 13.0 +0.765 2154 May 13.46 9.5 −0.979 2621 May 16.62 9.5 −0.055 1697 Nov 03.24 7.0 −0.668 2157 Nov 14.24 3.5 +0.399 2624 Nov 18.24 3.5 +0.030 1707 May 05.98 9.5 +0.067 2170 Nov 16.97 13.0 +0.907 2637 Nov 20.97 13.0 +0.543 1710 Nov 06.97 3.5 −0.150 2174 May 08.15 3.5 +0.972 2644 Nov 13.96 7.0 −0.906 1723 Nov 09.71 13.0 +0.361 2177 Nov 09.97 3.5 −0.526 2654 May 14.61 9.5 +0.805 1736 Nov 11.44 13.0 +0.869 2187 May 11.44 9.5 −0.101 2657 Nov 16.70 3.5 −0.381 1740 May 02.96 3.5 +0.934 2190 Nov 12.70 3.5 −0.009 2667 May 17.89 9.5 −0.265 1743 Nov 05.44 3.5 −0.560 2203 Nov