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The Remarkable Be Star HD 110432 (BZ Crucis)
HD 110432 (B1e) has gained considerable recent attention because it is ahard, variable X-ray source with local absorption and also because itsoptical spectrum is affected by an extensive Be disk. From time-serialechelle data obtained over 2 weeks during 2005 January and February, wehave discovered several remarkable characteristics in the star's opticalspectrum. The line profiles show rapid variations on some nights, whichcan most likely be attributed to irregularly occurring and short-livedmigrating subfeatures. Such features have been found in spectra ofγ Cas and AB Dor, two stars for which it is believed magneticfields force circumstellar clouds to corotate over the star's surface.The star's optical spectrum also exhibits a number of mainly Fe II andHe I emission features with double-lobed profiles typical of anoptically thin circumstellar disk viewed nearly edge-on. Using spectralsynthesis techniques for the January data, we find that its temperatureand column density are close to 9800 K and roughly3×1022 cm-2, respectively. Its projecteddisk size covers remarkably large 100 stellar areas, and the emittingvolume resides at a surprisingly large distance of 1 AU from the star.Surprisingly, we also find that the absorption wings of the strongestoptical and UV lines in the spectrum extend to at least +/-1000 kms-1, even though the rotational velocity is 300-400 kms-1. We are unable to find a satisfactory explanation forthese extreme line broadenings. Otherwise, HD 110432 and γ Casshare similarly peculiar X-ray and optical characteristics. Theseinclude a high X-ray temperature, erratic X-ray variability ontimescales of a few hours, optical metallic emission lines, andsubmigrating features in optical line profiles. Because of thesesimilarities, we suggest that HD 110432 is a member of a select newclass of ``γ Cas analogs.''
| 3D mapping of the dense interstellar gas around the Local Bubble
We present intermediate results from a long-term program of mapping theneutral absorption characteristics of the local interstellar medium,motivated by the availability of accurate and consistent parallaxes fromthe Hipparcos satellite. Equivalent widths of the interstellar NaID-line doublet at 5890 Å are presented for the lines-of-sighttowards some 311 new target stars lying within ~ 350 pc of the Sun.Using these data, together with NaI absorption measurements towards afurther ~ 240 nearby targets published in the literature (for many ofthem, in the directions of molecular clouds), and the ~ 450lines-of-sight already presented by (Sfeir et al. \cite{sfeir99}), weshow 3D absorption maps of the local distribution of neutral gas towards1005 sight-lines with Hipparcos distances as viewed from a variety ofdifferent galactic projections.The data are synthesized by means of two complementary methods, (i) bymapping of iso-equivalent width contours, and (ii) by densitydistribution calculation from the inversion of column-densities, amethod devised by Vergely et al. (\cite{vergely01}). Our present dataconfirms the view that the local cavity is deficient in cold and neutralinterstellar gas. The closest dense and cold gas ``wall'', in the firstquadrant, is at ~ 55-60 pc. There are a few isolated clouds at closerdistance, if the detected absorption is not produced by circumstellarmaterial.The maps reveal narrow or wide ``interstellar tunnels'' which connectthe Local Bubble to surrounding cavities, as predicted by the model ofCox & Smith (1974). In particular, one of these tunnels, defined bystars at 300 to 600 pc from the Sun showing negligible sodiumabsorption, connects the well known CMa void (Gry et al. \cite{gry85}),which is part of the Local Bubble, with the supershell GSH 238+00+09(Heiles \cite{heiles98}). High latitude lines-of-sight with the smallestabsorption are found in two ``chimneys'', whose directions areperpendicular to the Gould belt plane. The maps show that the LocalBubble is ``squeezed'' by surrounding shells in a complicated patternand suggest that its pressure is smaller than in those expandingregions.We discuss the locations of several HI and molecular clouds. Usingcomparisons between NaI and HI or CO velocities, in some cases we areable to improve the constraints on their distances. According to thevelocity criteria, MBM 33-37, MBM 16-18, UT 3-7, and MBM 54-55 arecloser than ~ 100 pc, and MBM 40 is closer than 80 pc. Dense HI cloudsare seen at less than 90 pc and 85 pc in the directions of the MBM 12and MBM 41-43 clouds respectively, but the molecular clouds themselvesmay be far beyond. The above closest molecular clouds are located at theneutral boundary of the Bubble. Only one translucent cloud, G192-67, isclearly embedded within the LB and well isolated.These maps of the distribution of local neutral interstellar NaI gas arealso briefly compared with the distribution of both interstellar dustand neutral HI gas within 300 pc.Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp:cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/411/447
| The enigmatic WR46: A binary or a pulsator in disguise. I. The photometry
We discuss the observational history of the Wolf-Rayet object WR 46(WN3p), including a re-investigation of the original discovery platesfrom early this century. We find that the reported presence of N Iiilines is a mis-interpretation of N V lines and conclude that the objectdid not change its spectral type since the first recording one centuryago. We performed photometric monitoring in the period 1986-1999, andconfirm that the object shows cyclical variability on a time scale ofhours. The shape of the light curves varies from purely sinusoidal toirregular, and from an amplitude of nearly 0\fm1 to constancy. Inaddition, night-to-night variability of the mean brightness causesfolded light curves to display a large scatter. We investigate thefrequency behaviour of the photometric data. From the periodograms ofour two large data sets, in 1989 and in 1991, we identify frequencies ofsignificantly different values 7.08 cd-1 and 7.34cd-1, respectively. Moreover, the 1989 data show strongevidence for an additional frequency fx= 4.34cd-1. The periodograms of our eight smaller data sets showmore ambiguous behaviour. We discuss whether these latter data showevidence for multi-frequency behaviour, or whether they can bereconciled with a single clock with a changing clock-rate. As pointedout by van Genderen et al. (1991), if the data are folded using twicethe single-wave period, the light curves appear ellipsoidal with unequalminima. Although the difference in depth of the minima is hardlysignificant, it does occur in both large data sets. Moreover, thesimultaneously obtained radial velocity measurements are in betteragreement with the double-wave than the single-wave period (Paper II).Finally, Marchenko et al. (2000) observed WR 46 to have a single-waveperiod of the same order as the double-wave period identified here. Theperiodograms of the (V-W) colour index show that the colour changes arecontrolled by single-wave frequencies, or their sub-harmonics(double-wave periods), but not by fx. The colour variation ofWR 46 is peculiar in the sense that the object is red when bright andblue when faint. Although the spectrum of WR 46 has been suggested tooriginate from a stellar disc, this peculiar colour behaviour is in linewith its WR nature, which is also confirmed by its spectral variability(Marchenko et al. 2000; Paper II). In addition, our seasonal photometricaverages of WR 46 show a rise from 1989 to 1991 of 0.12m, confirming thebrightening detected by the Hipparcos-satellite (Marchenko et al. 1998).Eventually, WR 46 brightened by about 0.25m and subsequently declined ona time scale of years. Such a rise is unique among the WR stars in theHipparcos-survey, and has not been found anywhere else. We investigatethe changes to the double-wave behaviour and mean colour-indexcoinciding with the period change and brightening. Interpretation of theobject as either a multi-frequency non-radial WR pulsator, or a WRbinary with possible large orbital decay is deferred to Paper III.Largely based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory (ESO), La Silla, Chile.
| Interstellar Nai D lines towards the Southern Coalsack
The interstellar Nai D absorption-line profiles observed for 15 starswith lines of sight towards the Southern Coalsack are analysed. Themethod of profile fitting was used in an attempt to determine columndensities, linewidths and velocities for the individual interstellarclouds contributing to the observed absorption lines. In common, theobserved spectra show a prominent component which is probably associatedwith the nearest absorbing material composing the Coalsack. The obtainedspatial velocity distribution shows great similarity with earlierresults from CO emission. In addition, the Nai D data reveal evidencefor the existence of two or three other structures with radialvelocities of about -22, -33 and -40kms-1. Such componentsmay be the counterparts of interstellar structures observed in diffuseHα and CO emission. The assumption that at least one of thesecomponents originated in the Carina arm imposes ~0.9-1.0kpc as themaximum distance to the near side of that arm.
| The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of optically bright OB-type stars.
For the detailed statistical analysis of the X-ray emission of hot starswe selected all stars of spectral type O and B listed in the Yale BrightStar Catalogue and searched for them in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. Inthis paper we describe the selection and preparation of the data andpresent a compilation of the derived X-ray data for a complete sample ofbright OB stars.
| 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.
| A homogeneous catalog of new UBV and H-beta photometry of B- and A-type stars in and around the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association
B- and A-type stars in and near the Sco-Cen OB association areinvestigated with UBV and H-beta photometry to acquire data relevant tothe luminosity function of Sco-Cen. The measurements generally consistof two 10-s integrations of U, B, V, (W, N) filters, and theobservations are corrected iteratively for atmospheric extinction andinstrumental response. The data presented give the mean V magnitude,mean B-V, mean U-B, and the estimated uncertainties for these values.The catalog provides a homogeneous catalog of data for a large fieldwith stellar objects delineating membership to the association Sco-Cenand that affect the luminosity function of the aggregate.
| An Einstein Observatory SAO-based catalog of B-type stars
About 4000 X-ray images obtained with the Einstein Observatory are usedto measure the 0.16-4.0 keV emission from 1545 B-type SAO stars fallingin the about 10 percent of the sky surveyed with the IPC. Seventy-fourdetected X-ray sources with B-type stars are identified, and it isestimated that no more than 15 can be misidentified. Upper limits to theX-ray emission of the remaining stars are presented. In addition tosummarizing the X-ray measurements and giving other relevant opticaldata, the present extensive catalog discusses the reduction process andanalyzes selection effects associated with both SAO catalog completenessand IPC target selection procedures. It is concluded that X-rayemission, at the level of Lx not less than 10 exp 30 ergs/s, is quitecommon in B stars of early spectral types (B0-B3), regardless ofluminosity class, but that emission, at the same level, becomes lesscommon, or nonexistent, in later B-type stars.
| Walraven photometry of nearby southern OB associations
Homogeneous Walraven (VBLUW) photometry is presented for 5260 stars inthe regions of five nearby southern OB associations: Scorpio Centaurus(Sco OB2), Orion OB1, Canis Major OB1, Monoceros OB1, and Scutum OB2.Derived V and (B - V) in the Johnson system are included.
| Short time scale light variations of the three Wolf-Rayet stars WR 46 (WN 3p), WR 50 (WC 6) and WR 86 (WC 7)
Photometric monitoring (VBLUW system) of three variable Wolf-Rayet starsWR 46 (WN 3p), WR 50 (WC 6 + a), and WR 86 (WC 7 + a) are presented anddiscussed. The light variations have time scales in the order of a fewhours with amplitudes of 0.03-0.1 m. Combining the results with those ofMonderen et al. (1988), it is concluded that the light variations of theWN 3p star are largely due to continuum variations, with a smallinfluence of emission line variations entering into the bandpasses. Mostof the light variations of the two mid-WC stars must be caused by thelarge number of emission lines coinciding with the band passes, whilethe influence of continuum variations is likely small. Several possibleexplanations for the variations are offered.
| The distance and structure of the Coalsack. I - Photometric data
The results of UBV and H-beta photometry for 284 stars of spectral typesB to F located in the area of the dark cloud Coalsack are presented.Most of the present stars are brighter than 10.0 mag and are classifiedin the MK system of Houk and Cowley (1975). For each star, the bestvalues for the extinction and distance modulus are provided, withtypical estimated errors of + or - 0.08 mag for the extinction and + or- 0.32 mag for the distance modulus. Possible misclassifications andspectral peculiarities are noted for several of the stars.
| Stromgren and H-beta photometry of stars earlier than G0 in the Southern Coalsack direction
Four-color and H-beta photometry have been obtained for 236 starsearlier than G0 in order to study the color excess distribution in theSouthern Coalsack direction. The beta histogram of the stars reveals arelative absence of stars in the range of A4 to A9. The (b-y)distribution for B-type stars suggests the existence of three differenttypes of stars located at different distances.
| The Southern Coalsack - Extinction and distance
H-beta and uvby photometric observations are reported for 236 stars oftypes B, A, and F in the region of the Southern Coalsack. Data obtainedwith the 50-cm Stromgren Automatic Telescope at ESO are presented inextensive tables, graphs, and maps and characterized in detail. Threedistinct structures are identified: (1) a nearby region (d less than 200pc) dominated by stars in front of the Coalsack, with evidence of a verydiffuse feature; (2) an intermediate region (d = 200-1100 pc) with starsreddened by Coalsack dust and/or the ISM behind it; and (3) a distantregion (d = 1.1-3.0 kpc) in which the reddening of 22 early B starsimplies a color-excess lower limit of E(b-y) = 0.230 mag, consistentwith a 10,000-solar-mass cloud at d = 1.2 kpc. The average upper-limitdistance to the main Coalsack components is estimated as 180 + or - 26pc, with some material possibly as near as 120 pc.
| The local system of early type stars - Spatial extent and kinematics
Published uvby and H-beta photometric data and proper motions arecompiled and analyzed to characterize the structure and kinematics ofthe bright early-type O-A0 stars in the solar vicinity, with a focus onthe Gould belt. The selection and calibration techniques are explained,and the data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and discussedin detail. The Gould belt stars of age less than 20 Myr are shown togive belt inclination 19 deg to the Galactic plane and node-lineorientation in the direction of Galactic rotation, while the symmetricaldistribution about the Galactic plane and kinematic properties (purecircular differential rotation) of the belt stars over 60 Myr oldresemble those of fainter nonbelt stars of all ages. The unresolveddiscrepancy between the expansion observed in the youngest nearby starsand the predictions of simple models of expansion from a point isattributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of interstellar matter.
| Search for Beta Cephei stars south of declination -20 deg. II - Photometric and spectrographic observations of early B giants and subgiants - Winter objects
Results of the second part of a program begun in 1975 (Jerzykiewicz andSterken, 1977) are presented. Out of 39 Beta Cephei candidates observedphotometrically, seven turned out to vary with the b ranges exceeding0.020 m, while 21 have been found constant to within 0.010 m or better.For the 56 comparison stars these numbers are 6 and 25, respectively.From spectrographic observations one of the candidates, HD 129557 = HR5488 (B2 III), iis found to be a Beta Cephei variable with a period of0.135 d and the 2 K amplitude of 18.4 km/s. A comparison of the resultsof this program with other recent photometric searches for Beta Cepheivariables shows good agreement in most cases. There are severaldiscrepant stars, however. These are discussed in some detail. Aconclusion emerges that in the low temperature extension of the BetaCephei region, if such an extension exists at all, on-and-off typepulsations occur.
| Four-colour and H BET photometry of some bright southern stars- II.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1972MNRAS.160..155S&db_key=AST
| Infrared Surveys of the Southern Milky way. I. Suspected Supergiant Stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1969ApJ...156L..37A&db_key=AST
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Kreuz des Südens |
| Right ascension: | 12h27m24.60s |
| Declination: | -63°47'21.0" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 6 |
| Distance: | 201.613 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -11 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -9.9 |
| B-T magnitude: | 6.074 |
| V-T magnitude: | 6.028 |
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