2000PASP..112..144M -
Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac., 112, 144-147 (2000/February-0)
An unprecedented change in the spectrum of S Doradus: as cool as it gets. (Research note).
MASSEY P.
Abstract (from CDS):
Recent observations of S Doradus, the archetype of luminous blue variables (LBVs), reveal that the star's optical spectrum now resembles an F-type supergiant, with a rich complex of absorption lines. Despite nearly 50 years of spectroscopic monitoring, such a spectrum has never before been seen for S Dor despite numerous occasions when the star was equally bright. However, such F-type spectra have been seen in other LBVs, including Var B in M33 during a recent outburst, and in η Carina during an outburst in 1893. The singly ionized metal lines arise in a layer moving away from the star (toward us) at 50 km.s–1, consistent with the lines forming in a ``pseudophotosphere'' originating in the stellar wind. The temperature suggested by the F-type spectrum is as cool as an LBV can get. Our CCD UBV photometry shows that the star has brightened only 0.3 mag in V since 1996, at which time it showed an emission-line spectrum characteristic of LBVs at minimum. The dereddened B-V color is consistent with an effective temperature suggested by the spectrum (7500 K), but there is a pronounced UV excess as evidenced by U-B. Why the behavior of S Dor has suddenly changed remains a mystery.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
Galaxies: Magellanic Clouds - Stars: Early-Type - Stars: Evolution - Stars: Variables: Other
Simbad objects:
7
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