A systematic study of variability among OB-stars based on HIPPARCOS photometry
Context: Variability is a key factor for understanding the nature of themost massive stars, the OB stars. Such stars lie closest to the unstableupper limit of star formation. Aims: In terms of statistics, thedata from the HIPPARCOS satellite are unique because of time coverageand uniformity. They are ideal to study variability in this large,uniform sample of OB stars. Methods: We used statisticaltechniques to determine an independant threshold of variabilitycorresponding to our sample of OB stars, and then applied an automaticalgorithm to search for periods in the data of stars that are locatedabove this threshold. We separated the sample stars into 4 maincategories of variability: 3 intrinsic and 1 extrinsic. The intrinsiccategories are: OB main sequence stars (~2/3 of the sample), OBe stars(~10%) and OB Supergiant stars (~1/4).The extrinsic category refers toeclipsing binaries. Results: We classified about 30% of the wholesample as variable, although the fraction depends on magnitude level dueto instrumental limitations. OBe stars tend to be much more variable(≈80%) than the average sample star, while OBMS stars are belowaverage and OBSG stars are average. Types of variables include αCyg, β Cep, slowly pulsating stars and other types from the generalcatalog of variable stars. As for eclipsing binaries, there arerelatively more contact than detached systems among the OBMS and OBestars, and about equal numbers among OBSG stars.
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A photometric study of Be stars located in the seismology fields of COROT
Context: In preparation for the COROT mission, an exhaustive photometricstudy of Be stars located in the seismology fields of the mission hasbeen performed. The very precise and long-time-spanned photometricobservations gathered by the COROT satellite will give important clueson the origin of the Be phenomenon. Aims: The aim of this work is tofind short-period variable Be stars located in the seismology fields ofCOROT, and to study and characterise their pulsational properties. Methods: Light curves obtained at the Observatorio de Sierra Nevada,together with data from Hipparcos and ASAS-3 for a total of 84 Be stars,were analysed in order to search for short-term variations. We appliedstandard Fourier techniques and non-linear least-square fitting to thetime series. Results: We found 7 multiperiodic, 21 mono-periodic and 26non-variable Be stars. Short-term variability was detected in 74% ofearly-type Be stars and in 31% of mid- to late-type Be stars. We showthat non-radial pulsations are more frequent among Be stars than inslow-rotating B stars of the same spectral range.Appendix A is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
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The Projected Rotational Velocity Distribution of a Sample of OB stars from a Calibration Based on Synthetic He I Lines
We derive projected rotational velocities (v sin i) for a sample of 156Galactic OB star members of 35 clusters, H II regions, and associations.The He I lines at 4026, 4388, and 4471 Å were analyzed in order todefine a calibration of the synthetic He I full widths at half-maximum(FWHMs) versus stellar v sin i. A grid of synthetic spectra of He I lineprofiles was calculated in non-LTE using an extensive helium model atomand updated atomic data. The v sin i values for all stars were derivedusing the He I FWHM calibrations, but also, for those target stars withrelatively sharp lines, v sin i values were obtained from best-fitsynthetic spectra of up to 40 lines of C II, N II, O II, Al III, Mg II,Si III, and S III. This calibration is a useful and efficient tool forestimating the projected rotational velocities of O9-B5 main-sequencestars. The distribution of v sin i for an unbiased sample of early Bstars in the unbound association Cep OB2 is consistent with thedistribution reported elsewhere for other unbound associations.
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Fundamental parameters of Be stars located in the seismology fields of COROT
In preparation for the COROT space mission, we determined thefundamental parameters (spectral type, temperature, gravity, V sin i) ofthe Be stars observable by COROT in its seismology fields (64 Be stars).We applied a careful and detailed modeling of the stellar spectra,taking into account the veiling caused by the envelope, as well as thegravitational darkening and stellar flattening due to rapid rotation.Evolutionary tracks for fast rotators were used to derive stellar massesand ages. The derived parameters will be used to select Be stars assecondary targets (i.e. observed for 5 consecutive months) and short-runtargets of the COROT mission. Furthermore, we note that the main part ofour stellar sample falls in the second half of the main sequence lifetime, and that in most cases the luminosity class of Be stars isinaccurate in characterizing their evolutionary status.
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New Estimates of the Solar-Neighborhood Massive Star Birthrate and the Galactic Supernova Rate
The birthrate of stars of masses >=10 Msolar is estimatedfrom a sample of just over 400 O3-B2 dwarfs within 1.5 kpc of the Sunand the result extrapolated to estimate the Galactic supernova ratecontributed by such stars. The solar-neighborhood Galactic-plane massivestar birthrate is estimated at ~176 stars kpc-3Myr-1. On the basis of a model in which the Galactic stellardensity distribution comprises a ``disk+central hole'' like that of thedust infrared emission (as proposed by Drimmel and Spergel), theGalactic supernova rate is estimated at probably not less than ~1 normore than ~2 per century and the number of O3-B2 dwarfs within the solarcircle at ~200,000.
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Catalog of Galactic OB Stars
An all-sky catalog of Galactic OB stars has been created by extendingthe Case-Hamburg Galactic plane luminous-stars surveys to include 5500additional objects drawn from the literature. This work brings the totalnumber of known or reasonably suspected OB stars to over 16,000.Companion databases of UBVβ photometry and MK classifications forthese objects include nearly 30,000 and 20,000 entries, respectively.
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A Search for High-Velocity Be Stars
We present an analysis of the kinematics of Be stars based uponHipparcos proper motions and published radial velocities. We findapproximately 23 of the 344 stars in our sample have peculiar spacemotions greater than 40 km s-1 and up to 102 kms-1. We argue that these high-velocity stars are the resultof either a supernova that disrupted a binary or ejection by closeencounters of binaries in young clusters. Be stars spun up by binarymass transfer will appear as high-velocity objects if there wassignificant mass loss during the supernova explosion of the initiallymore massive star, but the generally moderate peculiar velocities of BeX-ray binaries indicate that the progenitors lose most of their massprior to the supernova (in accordance with model predictions). Binaryformation models for Be stars predict that most systems bypass thesupernova stage (and do not receive runaway velocities) to createultimately Be+white dwarf binaries. The fraction of Be stars spun up bybinary mass transfer remains unknown, since the post-mass transfercompanions are difficult to detect.
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Statistical analysis of intrinsic polarization, IR excess and projected rotational velocity distributions of classical Be stars
We present the results of statistical analyses of a sample of 627 Bestars. The parameters of intrinsic polarization (p*),projected rotational velocity (v sin i), and near IR excesses have beeninvestigated. The values of p* have been estimated for a muchlarger and more representative sample of Be stars (~490 objects) thanpreviously. We have confirmed that most Be stars of early spectral typehave statistically larger values of polarization and IR excesses incomparison with the late spectral type stars. It is found that thedistributions of p* diverge considerably for the differentspectral subgroups. In contrast to late spectral types (B5-B9.5), thedistribution of p* for B0-B2 stars does not peak at the valuep*=0%. Statistically significant differences in the meanprojected rotational velocities (/line{vsin i}) are found for differentspectral subgroups of Be stars in the sense that late spectral typestars (V luminosity class) generally rotate faster than early types, inagreement with previously published results. This behaviour is, however,not obvious for the III-IV luminosity class stars. Nevertheless, thecalculated values of the ratio vt/vc of the truerotational velocity, vt, to the critical velocity forbreak-up, vc, is larger for late spectral type stars of allluminosity classes. Thus, late spectral type stars appear to rotatecloser to their break-up rotational velocity. The distribution of nearIR excesses for early spectral subgroups is bi-modal, the position ofthe second peak displaying a maximum value E(V-L)~ 1 . m 3for O-B1.5 stars, decreasing to E(V-L)~0. m8 for intermediatespectral types (B3-B5). It is shown that bi-modality disappears for latespectral types (B6-B9.5). No correlations were found betweenp* and near IR excesses and between E(V-L) and vsin i for thedifferent subgroups of Be stars. In contrast to near IR excesses, arelation between p* and far IR excesses at 12 mu m is clearlyseen. A clear relation between p* and vsin i (as well asbetween p* and /line{vsin i}/vc) is found by thefact that plots of these parameters are bounded by a ``triangular"distribution of p*: vsin i, with a decrease of p*towards very small and very large vsin i (and /line{vsini}/vc) values. The latter behaviour can be understood in thecontext of a larger oblateness of circumstellar disks for the stars witha rapid rotation. From the analysis of correlations between differentobservational parameters we conclude that circumstellar envelopes forthe majority of Be stars are optically thin disks with the range of thehalf-opening angle of 10degr
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Molecular and ionized gas motions in the compact H II region G 29.96-0.02
We present a new observation of the compact H II region, G 29.96-0.02,that allows us to compare the velocity structure in the ionized gas andsurrounding molecular gas directly. This allows us to remove most of theremaining ambiguity about the nature of this source. In particular, thecomparison of the velocity structure present in the 4^1,3S-3^1,3P He Ilines with that found in the 1-0 S(1) H_2 line convincingly rules out abow shock as being important to the kinematics of this source. Our newobservation therefore agrees with our previous conclusion, drawn from avelocity-resolved H I Brgamma map, that most of the velocity structurein G 29.96-0.02 can largely be explained as a result of a champagne-flowmodel. We also find that the best simple model must invoke a powerfulstellar wind to evacuate the `head' of the cometary H II region ofionized gas. However, residual differences between model and data tendto indicate that no single simple model can adequately explain all theobserved features.
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The 74th Special Name-list of Variable Stars
We present the Name-list introducing GCVS names for 3153 variable starsdiscovered by the Hipparcos mission.
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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.
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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.
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HD 173637
IAUC 5822 available at Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.
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UBV(RI)c photometry of equatorial standard stars - A direct comparison between the northern and southern systems
UBV(RI)c photometry of 212 stars from Landolt's list of equatorialstandards is presented. The observations are tied to the system definedby Cousin's E-region standards. A comparison of the present results withLandolt's reveals reasonably good agreement for (V-R)c and (V-I)c, butmarked systematic differences for (B-V) and (U-B). The UBV systems ofCousins and Landolt are evidently not the same and both probably differfrom Johnson's original system.
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The interstellar 217 NM band - A third catalogue of equivalent widths
A catalog of equivalent widths of the 217 nm interstellar absorptionband as well as other parameters characterizing the extinction curve inthe ultraviolet has been compiled for 790 O and B stars. A relativelytight correlation between the equivalent width of the 217 nm band andE(B-V) indicates that the absorber of this band is connected with thepopulation of larger interstellar grains responsible for the visualextinction. The parameter characterizing the amount of extinction in thefar UV is only weakly correlated with E(B-V), a result in accord withthe assumption that a second population of very small grains causes therapid increase of the far-UV extinction.
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Distances, reddenings and distribution of emission B-stars in the galactic centre region /l/ not greater than 45 deg
The distribution of Be stars in the region surrounding the Galacticcenter and their correlation to the spiral structure of the Galaxy hasbeen studied. The results are discussed in terms of reddenings anddistances of these stars. Data are presented on the Galacticcoordinates, colors, interstellar color excesses, reddening-freemagnitudes and colors, adopted absolute magnitudes, distances in kpc,distances from the Galactic plane, and MK spectral type.
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Photometric observations of emission B-stars in the southern Milky Way
In order to study the distribution of Be stars and their correlation tothe local spiral structure of the Galaxy photoelectric UBV photometrywas carried out for a total of 488 Be stars located in the southernMilky Way between galactic longitudes 315 and 45 deg. UBV magnitudes arepresented for these stars.
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UBVRI photometric standard stars around the celestial equator
It is pointed out that accurate, internally consistent, and readilyaccessible standard star photometric sequences are necessary for thecalibration of the intensity and color data which astronomers obtain atthe telescope. The photometric results provided in connection with thepresent study represent the first part of an effort which is concernedwith the presentation of UBVRI photoelectric photometric standard starsin the magnitude range from 7 to 17 over as broad a range in color aspossible. All of the photometric observations were made with a 31034type photomultiplier used in a pulse counting mode. Some 15 to 25standard stars chosen from Cousins' lists (1973, 1976) in the E-regionswere observed with an 0.4-m telescope each night along with the programstars. UBVRI standard stars were observed periodically throughout thenight. Observations with a 0.9-m telescope were also conducted. TheUBVRI photoelectric observations take into account 223 stars.
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Equivalent widths of spectral lines in B stars
Previously published equivalent widths of 26 strong spectral linesmeasured at various reciprocal dispersions, ranging from 1 to 75 A/mm,in 172 B stars and 14 A stars are collected and analyzed. The linesconsidered include H-alpha and H-beta; six of He I and one of He II; oneof C III; two of N II and one of N III; two of O II; one of Mg II; twoeach of Si II, Si III, and Si IV; one of Ca II; and three of Fe II. Acomparison of the measurements made at the different reciprocaldispersions reveals that the equivalent width of a given line increasessystematically with decreasing reciprocal dispersion. Only measurementsmade at a reciprocal dispersion of not more than 40 A/mm are used toplot average curves showing equivalent width as a function of spectraltype and luminosity class for all 26 lines. In all but two cases (He Iat 4121 A and Ca II at 4267 A), the behavior of the lines as a functionof temperature and gravity is found to be in accordance withmodel-atmosphere theory.
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A Catalogue of Be-Stars
Not Available
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A Finding List of Faint UV-Bright Stars in the Galactic Plane
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1973PASP...85...70L&db_key=AST
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A method for identifying high-velocity OB stars.
Not Available
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Emissions-B-Streme und galaktische Struktur. Erwiderung zu dem gleichnamigen Beitrag von A. BEHR
Not Available
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Luminous Stars in the Northern Milky Way
Not Available
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Studies in Galactic STRUCTURE.II.LUMINOSITY Classification for 1270 Blue Giant Stars.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1955ApJS....2...41M&db_key=AST
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Photometric and Spectroscopic Studies of Early-Type Stars Between Galactic Longitude L = 338° and L = 33°.
Not Available
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General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities
Not Available
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Polarization of Stellar Radiation. III. The Polarization of 841 Stars.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1951ApJ...114..241H&db_key=AST
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Supplement to the Mount Wilson Catalogue and Bibliography of Stars of Classes B and a whose Spectra have Bright Hydrogen Lines.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1943ApJ....98..153M&db_key=AST
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INHABITED SKY
