SKY-MAP.ORG
 Home Getting Started To Survive in the Universe News@Sky Astro Photo The Collection Forum Blog New! FAQ Press Login

# HD 61831

Contents

### Images

DSS Images   Other Images

### Related articles

 Determining the Physical Properties of the B Stars. II. Calibration of Synthetic PhotometryWe present a new calibration of optical (UBV, Strömgren uvbyβ,and Geneva) and near-IR (Johnson RIJHK and Two Micron All Sky Survey)photometry for B and early A stars derived from Kurucz ATLAS9 modelatmospheres. Our sample of stars consists of 45 normal nearby B andearly A stars that have high-quality, low-resolution IUE spectra andaccurate Hipparcos parallaxes. The calibration is unique because itrelies only on the UV spectral energy distributions, the absolute fluxcalibration of the V filter, and the Hipparcos distances to determinethe appropriate model atmospheres for the program stars. These modelsare then used to calibrate the synthetic photometry. We compare ourresults with previous well-accepted results and provide a thoroughdiscussion of the random errors and systematic effects affecting thecalibration. In particular, we demonstrate the influence of vsini onsurface gravities derived from fitting model atmospheres. Finally, wediscuss some of our intended applications of this new calibration. 3D mapping of the dense interstellar gas around the Local BubbleWe 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 Far-ultraviolet extinction and diffuse interstellar bandsWe relate the equivalent widths of the major diffuse interstellar bands(DIBs) near 5797 and 5780Å with different colour excesses,normalized by E(B-V), which characterize the growth of interstellarextinction in different wavelength ranges. It is demonstrated that thetwo DIBs correlate best with different parts of the extinction curve,and the ratio of these diffuse bands is best correlated with thefar-ultraviolet (UV) rise. A number of peculiar lines of sight are alsofound, indicating that the carriers of some DIBs and the far-UVextinction can be separated in certain environments, e.g. towards thePer OB2 association. WIYN Open Cluster Study. VII. NGC 2451A and the Hipparcos Distance ScaleWe provide new evidence that NGC 2451A is undoubtedly a young opencluster, although sparsely populated. New cluster membership has beenderived from relative proper motions of 5868 stars. In total, 136 starsdown to V~15 have membership probability Pμ>=2%. NewCCD BV photometry indicates that about 70 stars are indeed main-sequencestars of NGC 2451A. This is also supported by our measurements of radialvelocities. A total of 34 very likely cluster members yield a meanheliocentric radial velocity for NGC 2451A equal to +22.9 kms-1. The high quality of our BV photometry, a confirmation ofcluster membership from proper motions and radial velocities, and arecently obtained metallicity estimate for several cluster stars allowus to perform a precise isochrone fit. The Yale isochrones, updated bythe latest available input physics, have been fitted to the cluster'scolor-magnitude diagram, yielding a distance modulusV0-MV in the range 6.35 to 6.38, which is inexcellent agreement with the distance modulus (m-M)0=6.38derived from the Hipparcos data recently by van Leeuwen and Robichon etal. For NGC 2451A the isochrone fit yields an age of 60+/-20 Myr; hence,the cluster appears to be somewhat younger than the Pleiades. We alsopresent alternative evidence suggesting that the cluster could beslightly older than the Pleiades. The most important result of thisstudy is an excellent match between the main-sequence fitting andHipparcos distances to NGC 2451A. If we consider noticeable similaritiesbetween NGC 2451A and Pleiades, then the Hipparcos distance anomaly forPleiades may not require an explanation of astrophysical nature. The IMF of open star clusters with Tycho-2We studied the fields of nine nearby open star clusters based on theTycho-2 catalogue. We determined membership probabilities for the starsin the cluster fields from the stellar proper motions and used theTycho-2 photometry to compute the initial mass function (IMF) of theclusters from the main sequence turn-off point down to approx. 1 M_sun.We found IMF slopes ranging from Gamma =-0.69 down to Gamma =-2.27 (whenthe Salpeter \cite{salpeter} value would be Gamma =-1.35). We alsostudied the membership of individual stars of special astrophysicalinterest. In some cases previous results had to be revised. As aby-product, we investigated some general properties of the Tycho-2catalogue; we confirmed that the Tycho-2 proper motions show onlymarginal deviations from the Hipparcos catalogue. On the other hand, insome regions the completeness of the catalogue seems to decrease atmagnitudes brighter than claimed by Høg et al. (\cite{tycho2}).Based on observations of the ESA Hipparcos satellite. The Local Interstellar Medium in Puppis-VelaThe first study of the local interstellar medium (LISM) towardPuppis-Vela (l=245deg to 275°, b=-15deg to+5°, d<200 pc) is presented in this paper. A study of thelocations, sizes, and physical characteristics of local interstellargas, i.e.astronephography,'' is included, and relies upon the improveddistance measurements provided by Hipparcos parallax measurements. Allspectra of more distant sight lines contain absorption features due tointervening local gas, and more distant structures can only be studiedaccurately if components due to the LISM have been isolated. Towardsthis end, high-resolution (R~95,000), high signal-to-noise (S/N ~ 110 to250) Na I λλ5889.951, 5895.924 spectra of 11 nearby starsin the direction of Puppis-Vela have been obtained with the CoudéEchelle Spectrograph on the 1.4 m Coudé Auxiliary Telescope atthe European Southern Observatory. Toward Puppis-Vela, absorption due tothe Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) was not observed, but components atthree distinct velocities were found, and the extent of the local gasproducing the features was estimated. The three components have thefollowing locations and velocities: component A-(l~276° to 298°,b~-5degto +4°), Vhelio=+6 to +9 kms-1, and d~104 pc; component B-(l~264deg to276°, b~-7deg to +3°), Vhelio=+12 to +15km s-1, and d~115 pc; component C-(l~252deg to271°, b~-8deg to -6°), Vhelio=+21 to +23km s-1, and d~131 pc. The conclusions regarding theultraviolet spectrum of γ2 Vel (l=263deg,b=-8deg, d=258+/-35 pc) presented by Fitzpatrick &Spitzer were reexamined in light of this new LISM data, and theambiguity in their conclusions about several absorption components isresolved. The stars in Puppis-Vela flank the region of the apparentextension of the Local Bubble (or Cavity) known as the β CMatunnel, and measurements of the Na I column density towards the samplestars have been used to modify existing estimates of the extent of thetunnel. A compilation of all existing Na I observations of less than 200pc sight lines around the tunnel reveal that low column densities havebeen exclusively detected within l~210deg to 250°, andb~-21deg to -9°. Near the Galactic plane, at latitudes-10deg Absolute proper motions of open clusters. I. Observational dataMean proper motions and parallaxes of 205 open clusters were determinedfrom their member stars found in the Hipparcos Catalogue. 360 clusterswere searched for possible members, excluding nearby clusters withdistances D < 200 pc. Members were selected using ground basedinformation (photometry, radial velocity, proper motion, distance fromthe cluster centre) and information provided by Hipparcos (propermotion, parallax). Altogether 630 certain and 100 possible members werefound. A comparison of the Hipparcos parallaxes with photometricdistances of open clusters shows good agreement. The Hipparcos dataconfirm or reject the membership of several Cepheids in the studiedclusters. Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at theCDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html The eclipsing binary V578 Mon in the Rosette nebula: age and distance to NGC 2244 using Fourier disentangled component spectraV578 Mon is a member of the young stellar cluster NGC 2244 which isembedded in the Rosette nebula. It is a double-lined binary, consistingof two early-B type components which eclipse each other partially duringtheir 2.40848-day orbit. A novel technique of Fourier disentangling isapplied to disentangle the spectrum of the binary into the spectra ofits components, allowing a direct spectroscopic temperaturedetermination for each component. Together with an analysis of the lightcurve, the spectral disentangling process allows us to derive theorbital and fundamental stellar parameters. The hotter star (T_eff = 30000 K) has a mass of 14.5 Msun and a radius of 5.2 Rsun. The cooler one (T_eff = 26 400 K) has a mass of 10.3 Msun and a radius of 4.3 Rsun . Both stars are well insidetheir critical Roche lobe and move in an eccentric orbit (e=0.087) whichhas a semi-major axis of 22 Rsun and is seen at aninclination of 72.6degr . The rotation of both stars is synchronizedwith the orbital motion. The systemic velocity of 34.9 km s-1,confirms that the binary belongs to NGC 2244. The age of the binary,and hence of NGC 2244, is (2.3±0.2) 106 years. Fromthe fundamental stellar parameters and the interstellar absorption, thedistance to the cluster is derived to be 1.39 ±0.1 kpc, i.e.slightly lower than that found from photometric studies. Its age andspace velocity indicate that NGC 2244 is formed in the galactic plane.The high accuracy obtained (e.g. probable errors of 0.5% for the masses,1m -1.5% for the radii, despite the lack of total eclipses,and 1.5% for the temperatures) is a direct consequence of the spectraldisentangling technique, which as a by-product delivers very accurateradial velocities for all orbital phases. Based on observations obtainedat the European Southern Observatory (ESO), La Silla, Chile Table 5 isonly available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to130.79.128.5 or at http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr Determining the Physical Properties of the B Stars. I. Methodology and First ResultsWe describe a new approach to fitting the UV-to-optical spectra of Bstars to model atmospheres and present initial results. Using a sampleof lightly reddened stars, we demonstrate that the Kurucz modelatmospheres can produce excellent fits to either combined low-dispersionIUE and optical photometry or HST FOS spectrophotometry, as long as thefollowing conditions are fulfilled: (1) an extended grid of Kuruczmodels is employed; (2) the IUE NEWSIPS data are placed on the FOSabsolute flux system using the Massa & Fitzpatrick transformation;(3) and all of the model parameters and the effects of interstellarextinction are solved for simultaneously. When these steps are taken,the temperatures, gravities, abundances, and microturbulence velocitiesof lightly reddened B0-A0 V stars are determined to high precision. Wealso demonstrate that the same procedure can be used to fit the energydistributions of stars that are reddened by any UV extinction curve thatcan be expressed by the Fitzpatrick & Massa parameterization scheme.We present an initial set of results and verify our approach throughcomparisons with angular diameter measurements and the parametersderived for an eclipsing B-star binary. We demonstrate that themetallicity derived from the ATLAS9 fits to main-sequence B stars isessentially the Fe abundance. We find that a near zero microturbulencevelocity provides the best fit to all but the hottest or most luminousstars (where it may become a surrogate for atmospheric expansion) andthat the use of white dwarfs to calibrate UV spectrophotometry is valid. A Second Catalog of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 Filter Photometry: Ultraviolet Photometry of 614 StarsUltraviolet photometry from the Wisconsin Experiment Package on theOrbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 (OAO 2) is presented for 614 stars.Previously unpublished magnitudes from 12 filter bandpasses withwavelengths ranging from 1330 to 4250 Å have been placed on thewhite dwarf model atmosphere absolute flux scale. The fluxes wereconverted to magnitudes using V=0 for F(V)=3.46x10^-9 ergs cm^-2 s^-1Å^-1, or m_lambda=-2.5logF_lambda-21.15. This second catalogeffectively doubles the amount of OAO 2 photometry available in theliterature and includes many objects too bright to be observed withmodern space observatories. Strömgren and Hβ photometry of O and B type stars in star-forming regions. II. Monoceros OB2, Canis Major OB1 and Collinder 121Strömgren and Hβ photometry of O and B type stars, generallybrighter than 10 mag is presented for the fields of the galactic OBassociations Monoceros OB2, Canis Major OB1 and Collinder 121. Theobservations are based on the PPM catalogue identifications and aredesigned to improve the completeness of the existing uvbybeta data forthe bright early-type stars in these fields. We present new uvbyphotometry for 343 stars and Hβ photometry for 213 of them. Theseobservations are part of our effort to study the structure of selectedstar-forming regions in the Milky Way, utilizing uvbybeta photometry.Based on data from the Strömgren Automatic Telescope of theCopenhagen Astronomical Observatory, La Silla. Tables 3 and 4 are onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to130.79.128.5 or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Strömgren and Hβ photometry of O and B type stars in star-forming regions. I. Canis Major - Puppis - VelaStrömgren and Hβ photometry of OB-stars generally brighterthan 9.5 mag in the Canis Major - Puppis - Vela region of Milky Way isreported. The observations are based on the Milky Way luminous-star (LS)identifications and are designed to create a complete, magnitude-limitedsample of LS for this field. We present new uvby photometry for 127 LSand Hβ photometry for 25 of them. These observations are part of anongoing effort to improve the completeness of the existing uvbybetadata-base for the bright OB-type stars in the Milky Way, with the aim toinvestigate the structure of selected star-forming regions. Based ondata from the Strömgren Automatic Telescope of the CopenhagenAstronomical Observatory, La Silla. Tables 3 and 4 are only available inelectronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to 130.79.128.5 or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Open clusters with Hipparcos. I. Mean astrometric parametersNew memberships, mean parallaxes and proper motions of all 9 openclusters closer than 300 pc (except the Hyades) and 9rich clusters between 300 and 500 pc have been computed using Hipparcosdata. Precisions, ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 mas for parallaxes and 0.1 to0.5 mas/yr for proper motions, are of great interest for calibratingphotometric parallaxes as well as for kinematical studies. Carefulinvestigations of possible biases have been performed and no evidence ofsignificant systematic errors on the mean cluster parallaxes has beenfound. The distances and proper motions of 32 more distant clusters,which may be used statistically, are also indicated. Based onobservations made with the ESA Hipparcos astrometry satellite Geneva photometry of the open cluster NGC 2451 and its exceptional Be star HR 2968 satellite.}During many years, several authors discussed whether NGC2451 was a real open star cluster or not. By using parallaxesand proper motions from Hipparcos satellite, and Geneva multicolourphotometric measurements of 64 stars, the existence of two clusters Aand B is confirmed. Distances and Geneva colour excesses E[B-V] arerespectively 197 pc, 0.01 and 358 pc, 0.12 for NGC2451 A and B. The two clusters have the same age (log t =7.7). A unique Be star, HR 2968, which belongs tocluster B, has been monitored from 1978 to 1998 in Geneva photometry andfrom November 1989 to March 1993 by the Hipparcos satellite. This starshows exceptional luminosity variations: i) The mean luminosity, whichhas been stable since 1978 (normal B-star phase), increased from 1990 to1995 (Be phase), and then decreased until 1998; ii) Also, in 1990started a periodic light variation with a period of 371 d. Five periodsof this mid-term light variation were observed. Hipparcos and Genevaphotometries are in perfect agreement. A model is proposed to explainthis periodic variability: the Be star is the main component of a binarysystem having an eccentric orbit of period 371 d; from 1990, the Be starwas surrounded by matter expelled in its equatorial plane and, at eachperiastron passage, the companion star interacts gravitationally and/orradiatively with the disk. The physical parameters of the Be star andits companion (most probably a main sequence star) are determined byusing their belonging to NGC 2451 B and bycalculating an approximate orbit from published radial velocities. Themean values of the photometric data are only available in electronicform at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u.strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5)or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html On the normal spectral energy distribution of stars: Spectral types O9-B5The normal energy distributions for fifteen spectral subtypes from O9 toB5 for luminosity classes V, IV, and III are derived. Threephotometrically uniform catalogs served as the source of thespectrophotometric data used. Synthetic color indices for all spectraltypes are calculated using the energy distribution curves obtained.Comparison of these indices with the expected normal color indicessuggests that the energy distributions derived are reliable. The nature of some doubtful open clusters as revealed by HIPPARCOSWe discuss the nature of some galactic open clusters by using propermotions and parallaxes from the Hipparcos and ACT catalogues. We showthat the clusters Collinder 399, Upgren 1, NGC 1252 and Melotte 227 donot exist. Collinder 132 is found to be mainly composed out of membersof an OB association, but there may be a star cluster present in thisarea too. Roeser & Bastian (1994) proposed that NGC 2451 consists oftwo star clusters. We show that NGC 2451 A definitively does exist, NGC2451 B may exist. A star cluster may also be present in the area ofRoslund 5. The Hipparcos data finally confirm the reality of Collinder135. Secondary standard stars for UVBY beta CCD photometryAccurate standard uvby indices are presented for 73 southern B, A, F andG stars in the $V$ magnitude range 8.2 to 10.9. They cover all threetransformation regions of the $uvby$ system (Olsen \cite[1983]{Olsen1})well. Standard $\beta$ indices are included for the 55 B, A, and F starsin the sample. Our results provide a useful set of secondary standardsfor uvby beta CCD photometry with southern hemisphere 1-2 m classtelescopes. A critical comparison with published photometry, in generalbased on fewer observations, is given. Based on observations made at theEuropean Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile. Tables 3, 4, 5 are alsoavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Behaviour of the HeI 587.6, 667.8, 706.5 and 728.1nm lines in B-type stars. On the helium stratification in the atmosphere of magnetic helium peculiar stars.High resolution spectra of the HeI587.6, 667.8 706.5 and 728.1nm lineshave been obtained to test the prediction (notably by Vauclair et al.1991) that helium abundance should decrease with depth in helium richstars and increase in helium weak stars. A sample of B-type mainsequence stars, with expected solar abundances and non stratifiedatmospheres, have also been observed in order to compare the behaviourof the selected lines with the chemically peculiar case and with theory.We found significant discrepancies with theory for the lines HeI 706.5.and 728.1nm, and, in order to outline differences between 'normal' and'peculiar' stars, we have adopted an empirical correction to the Lorentzbroadening parameter in the Voigt profile, under the assumption of LTE.This parameter is derived from the imposition of a satisfactory fit withobservations for the relation equivalent width vs. effective temperaturefor normal B stars. For helium rich stars we confirm Vauclair et al.(1991) predictions that helium abundance decreases with depth. However,we found that helium abundance decreases with depth in helium weak starstoo, which contradicts Vauclair et al. (1991) predictions. For somepeculiar stars, the inferred helium abundance is in disagreement withthe peculiarity class reported in the General Catalogue of Ap and Amstars (Renson et al. 1991). The Pulkovo Spectrophotometric Catalog of Bright Stars in the Range from 320 TO 1080 NMA spectrophotometric catalog is presented, combining results of numerousobservations made by Pulkovo astronomers at different observing sites.The catalog consists of three parts: the first contains the data for 602stars in the spectral range of 320--735 nm with a resolution of 5 nm,the second one contains 285 stars in the spectral range of 500--1080 nmwith a resolution of 10 nm and the third one contains 278 stars combinedfrom the preceding catalogs in the spectral range of 320--1080 nm with aresolution of 10 nm. The data are presented in absolute energy unitsW/m(2) m, with a step of 2.5 nm and with an accuracy not lower than1.5--2.0%. 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. The determination of T_eff_ of B, A and F main sequence stars from the continuum between 3200 A and 3600 A.A method of determination of the effective temperature of B, A and Fmain sequence stars is proposed, using the slope of the continuumbetween 3200A and 3600A. The effective temperature calibration is basedon a sample of stars with energy distributions known from UV to the red.We have determined the Balmer jump and the effective temperatures for235 main sequence stars. The temperatures found have been compared withthose derived by Underhill et al. (1979), Kontizas & Theodossiou(1980), Theodossiou (1985), Morossi & Malagnini (1985). Thecomparison showed good agreement for most of the stars in common. On theother hand, the temperatures derived from the reddening-free colourfactor QUV, from the colour index (m1965-V) and from (B-V), given inGulati et al. (1989), are systematically lower than our temperatures,however the differences are within one-sigma error. Catalogue of blue stragglers in open clusters.An extensive survey of blue straggler candidates in galactic openclusters of both hemispheres is presented. The blue stragglers wereselected considering their positions in the cluster colour-magnitudediagrams.They were categorized according to the accuracy of thephotometric measurements and membership probabilities. An amount of 959blue straggler candidates in 390 open clusters of all ages wereidentified and classified. A set of basic data is given for everycluster and blue straggler. The information is arranged in the form of acatalogue. Blue stragglers are found in clusters of all ages. Thepercentage of clusters with blue stragglers generally grows with age andrichness of the clusters. The mean ratio of the number of bluestragglers to the number of cluster main sequence stars is approximatelyconstant up to a cluster age of about 10^8.6^ yr and rises for olderclusters. In general, the blue stragglers show a remarkable degree ofcentral concentration. The Spacelab-1 Very Wide Field Survey of UV-excess objects. IV. The performance of the instrument in combination with optical photometry as a means of identifying stars with peculiar properties.UV (195 nm) and Stroemgren uvby photometry of a 110 square degree fieldat high southern galactic latitudes are analyzed through a comparison ofi) UV magnitudes for 57 stars of various types common to the publishedTD1 catalogue and the Very Wide Field Camera (VWFC); and ii) observedand theoretical two-colour diagrams. The higher sensitivity of the VWFC(=~0.5magnitude) and its more complete survey are exemplified by thedetection and UV measurement of a series of objects with moderateUV-excess in addition to detection of some very blue objects of variousnature down to fainter than 12th magnitude in the optical domain. Adeeper survey with a VWFC-type instrument could provide a completesample for studies of the group properties of faint blue stars. Duringthe uvby reductions it was found that the usual procedure of plottingresiduals as functions of declination, hour angle and airmass can be apowerful and diagnostic test of photometer rigidity. NGC 2451 - What is it?During the last decade, a debate has arisen whether the grouping ofstars called NGC 2451 is a real star cluster. We investigate thecorresponding area of the sky kinematically, using proper motions of thePPM catalogue. The group of stars that was originally called NGC 2451shows a large scatter of their proper motions, which proves that they donot form a cluster. However, close-by we find a group of 24 PPM starswith common proper motion. A colour-magnitude diagram of 19 of theseshows an extremely well-defined main sequence, giving a distance ofabout 220 pc. This cluster is not NGC 2451. We tentatively call itPuppis Moving Group (PMG). There is strong indication for a secondcluster at about 400 pc. Photometry, radial velocities and propermotions of stars fainter than the magnitude limit of PPM are needed tofurther investigate the matter. Rotational velocity of Be stars correlated with extinction lawThe paper presents the comparison of the extinction curves extractedfrom spectra of 35 Be stars. It is suggested that high rotationalvelocity relates to 'peculiar' shape of extinction curve i.e., the lackof the 2200 A bump. This phenomenon occurs only if the total reddeningis not very high. We assume that such extinction curves originate solelyin circumstellar disks surrounding the high rotational velocity stars.Other objects are probably also obscured by some additional interstellarclouds. Stromgren Four-Colour UVBY Photometry of G5-TYPE Hd-Stars Brighter than MV=8.6Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1993A&AS..102...89O&db_key=AST Spectral synthesis in the ultraviolet. IV - A library of mean stellar groupsA library of mean UV stellar energy distributions is derived from IUEspectrophotometry of 218 stars. The spectra cover 1230-3200 A with aspectral resolution of about 6 A. They have been corrected forinterstellar extinction and converted to a common flux and wavelengthscale. Individual stars were combined into standard groups according totheir continuum colors, observed UV spectral morphology, MK luminosityclass, and metal abundance. The library consists of 56 groups: 21dwarf(V), 8 subgiant(IV), 16 giant(III), and supergiant(I + II) groups,covering O3-M4 spectral types. A metal-poor sequence is included,containing four dwarf and two giant groups, as is a metal-enhancedsequence with a single dwarf, subgiant, and giant group. Spectralindices characterizing the continuum and several strong absorptionfeatures are examined as temperature, luminosity, and abundancediagnostics. The library is intended to serve as a basis forinterpreting the composite UV spectra of a wide variety of stellarsystems, e.g., elliptical galaxies, starburst systems, and high-redshiftgalaxies. Interstellar reddening in the Southern Hemisphere. I - The UVBY beta observationsThe uvby-beta photometric data obtained from a Southern Hemisphereobservational project is presented. A uvby-beta photometric network ofnearly 3900 A and early F stars has been established with the intentthat the stars serve as 'space probes' for measurements of interstellarreddening. Infrared dust and millimeter-wave carbon monoxide emission in the Orion regionThe far-infrared dust emission seen by the IRAS satellite in the Orionregion is analyzed as a function of the local radiation field intensity,and the dust temperature and opacity are compared with (C-12)O and(C-13)O emission. The infrared radiation is interpreted within theframework of a single-component large grain model and a multicomponentgrain model consisting of subpopulations of grains with size-dependenttemperatures. A strong dependence of the 100-micron optical depthderived is found using the large grain model on the averageline-of-sight dust temperature and radiation field. In the hotenvironment surrounding high-luminosity sources and H II regions, alldust along the line-of-sight radiates at 100 microns, and thedust-to-gas ratio, based on the 100-micron opacity and I(/C-13/O),appears to be in agreement with the standard value, about 1 percent bymass. A relationship is found between the inferred dust-to-gas ratio andthe radiation field intensity responsible for heating the dust which canbe used to estimate the gas column density from the dust opacity derivedfrom the 60- and 100-micron IRAS fluxes.
Submit a new article