NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0521
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0521 |
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PI: Guy Stringfellow, University of Colorado, Guy.Stringfellow@colorado.edu
Address: Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, 389 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0389, USA
CoI: Vasilii Gvaramadze, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Russia
Title: Confirming LBV Candidates Through Variability: A Photometric and Spectroscopic Monitoring Study
Abstract:
Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) stars represent an extremely rare class
of very luminous, massive stars. About a dozen confirmed Galactic LBV
stars are known, which precludes determining a solid evolutionary
connection between LBV and other intermediate (e.g. Ofpe/WN9, WNL)
phases in the life of very massive stars. Several catalogues of nebulae -
rings and shells typical of LBVs - derived from the GLIMPSE and MIPSGAL
surveys have recently been published. We conducted a near-IR spectral
survey of a large subset of central stars residing within these nebulae
and have identified nearly two dozen new candidate LBVs (cLBVs) based on
spectral similarity alone; they remain cLBVs until 1-3 mag variability
is demonstrated, securing their LBV nature. This marks a significant
advancement in the study of massive stars, far outweighing the return
from many studies searching for LBVs and WRs the past several decades.
Using SMARTS 16 new cLBVs, 3 confirmed LBVs, and 4 previously known
cLBVs will undergo photometric optical/IR-monitoring with the 1.3m, and
13 (c)LBVs monitored spectroscopically with the 1.5m.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0521 |
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