The Progenitor Masses of Wolf-Rayet Stars and Luminous Blue Variables Determined from Cluster Turnoffs. I. Results from 19 OB Associations in the Magellanic Clouds
We combine new CCD UBV photometry and spectroscopy with those from theliterature to investigate 19 Magellanic Cloud OB associations thatcontain Wolf-Rayet (W-R) and other types of evolved, massive stars. Ourspectroscopy reveals a wealth of newly identified interesting objects,including early O-type supergiants, a high-mass, double-lined binary inthe SMC, and, in the LMC, a newly confirmed luminous blue variable (LBV;R85), a newly discovered W-R star (Sk -69°194), and a newly foundluminous B[e] star (LH 85-10). We use these data to provide precisereddening determinations and construct physical H-R diagrams for theassociations. We find that about half of the associations may be highlycoeval, with the massive stars having formed over a short period(Δτ<1 Myr). The (initial) masses of the highest massunevolved stars in the coeval clusters may be used to estimate themasses of the progenitors of W-R and other evolved stars found in theseclusters. Similarly, the bolometric luminosities of the highest massunevolved stars can be used to determine the bolometric corrections(BCs) for the evolved stars, providing a valuable observational basisfor evaluating recent models of these complicated atmospheres. What wefind is the following: (1) Although their numbers is small, it appearsthat the W-R stars in the SMC come from only the highest mass (greaterthan 70 Msolar) stars. This is in accord with ourexpectations that at low metallicities only the most massive andluminous stars will have sufficient mass loss to become W-R stars. (2)In the LMC, the early-type WN (WNE) stars occur in clusters whoseturnoff masses range from 30 to 100 Msolar or more. Thissuggests that possibly all stars with mass greater than 30Msolar pass through a WNE stage at LMC metallicities. (3) Theone WC star in the SMC is found in a cluster with a turnoff mass of 70Msolar, the same as that for the SMC WN stars. In the LMC,the WC stars are found in clusters with turnoff masses of 45Msolar or higher, similar to what is found for the LMC WNstars. Thus we conclude that WC stars come from essentially the samemass range as do WN stars and indeed are often found in the sameclusters. This has important implications for interpreting therelationship between metallicity and the WC/WN ratio found in LocalGroup galaxies, which we discuss. (4) The LBVs in our sample come fromvery high mass stars (greater than 85 Msolar), similar towhat is known for the Galactic LBV η Car, suggesting that only themost massive stars go through an LBV phase. Recently, Ofpe/WN9 starshave been implicated as LBVs after one such star underwent an LBV-likeoutburst. However, our study includes two Ofpe/WN9 stars, BE 381 and Br18, which we find in clusters with much lower turnoff masses (25-35Msolar). We suggest that Ofpe/WN9 stars are unrelated to``true'' LBVs: not all ``LBV-like outbursts'' may have the same cause.Similarly, the B[e] stars have sometimes been described as LBV-like.Yet, the two stars in our sample appear to come from a large mass range(30-60 Msolar). This is consistent with other studies,suggesting that B[e] stars cover a large range in bolometricluminosities. (5) The bolometric corrections of early WN and WC starsare found to be extreme, with an average BC(WNE) of -6.0 mag and anaverage BC(WC4) of -5.5 mag. These values are considerably more negativethan those of even the hottest O-type stars. However, similar valueshave been found for WNE stars by applying Hillier's ``standard model''for W-R atmospheres. We find more modest BCs for the Ofpe/WN9 stars(BC=-2 to -4 mag), also consistent with recent analysis done with thestandard model. Extension of these studies to the Galactic clusters willprovide insight into how massive stars evolve at differentmetallicities.
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The HIPPARCOS proper motion of the Magellanic Clouds
The proper motion of the Large (LMC) and Small (SMC) Magellanic Cloudusing data acquired with the Hipparcos satellite is presented. Hipparcosmeasured 36 stars in the LMC and 11 stars in the SMC. A correctlyweighted mean of the data yields the presently available most accuratevalues, mu_alpha cos(delta) = 1.94 +/- 0.29 mas/yr, mu_delta = - 0.14+/- 0.36 mas/yr for the LMC. For the SMC, mu_alpha cos(delta) = 1.23 +/-0.84 mas/yr, mu_delta = - 1.21 +/- 0.75 mas/yr is obtained, whereby careis taken to exclude likely tidal motions induced by the LMC. Bothgalaxies are moving approximately parallel to each other on the sky,with the Magellanic Stream trailing behind. The Hipparcos proper motionsare in agreement with previous measurements using PPM catalogue data byKroupa et al. (1994), and by Jones et al. (1994) using backgroundgalaxies in a far-outlying field of the LMC. For the LMC the Hipparcosdata suggest a weak rotation signal in a clockwise direction on the sky.Comparison of the Hipparcos proper motion with the proper motion of thefield used by Jones et al. (1994), which is about 7.3 kpc distant fromthe center of the LMC, also suggests clockwise rotation. Combining thethree independent measurements of the proper motion of the LMC and thetwo independent measurements of the proper motion of the SMC improvesthe estimate of the proper motion of the LMC and SMC. The correspondinggalactocentric space motion vectors are computed. Within theuncertainties, the LMC and SMC are found to be on parallel trajectories.Recent theoretical work concerning the origin of the Magellanic Systemis briefly reviewed, but a unique model of the Magellanic Stream, forthe origin of the Magellanic Clouds, and for the mass distribution inthe Galaxy cannot yet be decided upon. Future astrometric space missionsare necessary to significantly improve our present knowledge of thespace motion of the two most conspicuous galactic neighbours of theMilky Way.
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Luminosities of yellow supergiants from near-infrared spectra - Calibration through Magellanic Cloud stars
The possibility of using medium resolution spectrograms in the nearinfrared region to determine luminosities of A-G supergiants has beenexplored. A sample of 49 of these stars has been observed in the twoMagellanic Clouds, and using the intensities of the O I 7774 triplet andan index (CP), which is a combination of the Ca II triplet and Paschenlines intensities, a preliminary luminosity calibration, based on LMCstars, has been obtained. Such a calibration predicts reliableluminosities for Galactic supergiants, and offers the advantage of beingcompletely reddening independent. The reddening free CP index combinedwith BVRI color indices has also been used to estimate the interstellarreddenings of Magellanic Cloud stars.
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The distance to the Magellanic Clouds from luminous F supergiants
A recent M(v)-uvby beta calibration for Galactic luminous F-Gsupergiants was used to estimate the distance to the Magellanic Cloudsfrom F supergiants. The distance moduli 19.33 + or - 0.31 for the SMCand 18.19 + or - 0.22 for the LMC are found. The present limitations ofusing F-G supergiants as distance indicators are discussed.
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Astrometry of SN 1987A and SK -69.202 deg
Two sets of astrometric plates (epochs 1987.2 and 1973.0) and asecondary reference system comprised of LMC members were used todetermine the position of SN 1987A relative to about 30 Perth 70 stars.The positional coincidence of the SN and Star 1 of Sanduleak -69 deg 202is confirmed to within an uncertainty of + or - 0.13 arcsec in eachcoordinate. The relative brightness of the two major components of Sk-69 deg 202 was assessed by fitting the density profiles of the blendedimages.
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Photometric Studies of Magellanic Cloud Supergiants. II. Variability
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1986ApJS...62..451G
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Photometric studies of Magellanic Cloud supergiants. I - Mean magnitudes and reddenings. II - Variability
In the first part of this paper, a combination of spectral types for 81LMC and 46 SMC supergiants from the literature with new BVRI photometryyields reddenings and intrinsic colors for these stars. While reddeningsup to E(B-V) of 0.3 are found for the LMC sample, the figure for the SMCappears to be no more than 0.2. The dust/gas ratio in both galaxies isfound to be lower than in the Milky Way. In the second part, individualBVRI photoelectric observations for 88 LMC and 46 SMC intermediatespectral type supergiants are analyzed for variability. It is noted that45 percent of the stars exhibit significant variations, with theincidence of variability decreasing with decreasing luminosity.
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Radial velocities of southern stars obtained with the photoelectric scanner CORAVEL. V - 404 F to M supergiant stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud
High accuracy radial velocities have been obtained for 404 F and Msupergiant stars belonging to the LMC using the photoelectric scannerCORAVEL. The observations are presented and the determination of theaccuracy is described. The results are compared to the previous work ofFeast et al. (1960), Ardeberg et al. (1972), and Brunet et al. (1973),and a new determination of the average velocity dispersion in the LMC isgiven. The general trend of the stellar velocities, as compared to theradial velocities of gaseous components, is examined. A systematic shiftof about 6 km/s between velocities of KM and OBA stars is observed,while agreement is excellent with H I velocities. The surfacedistribution of radial velocities shows a tendency of stars to clusterin groups with low intrinsic velocity dispersions. A preliminary meanvelocity dispersion of 5.3 km/s is determined for KM stars.
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Radial velocities from objective-prism plates in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud
A catalog is presented of 711 Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) stars, withattention to the radial velocities of 418 of these. Also given are theradial velocities of 1127 galactic stars in the direction of the LMC, aswell as discussions of the precision of these measurements and of radialvelocity dispersion in different fields.
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DDO Observations of Southern Stars
Not Available
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A catalogue of A- and F-type supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1976A&AS...24...35S&db_key=AST
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UBV photometry for supergiants of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1975A&A....43..345B&db_key=AST
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Radial velocities from objective-prism plates in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud. List of 398 stars, LMC members. List of 1434 galactic stars, in the LMC direction
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1974A&AS...13..173F&db_key=AST
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Rotation et masse DU grand nuage de Magellan.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1973A&A....28..165P&db_key=AST
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Spectrographic and photometric observations of supergiants and foreground stars in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1972A&AS....6..249A&db_key=AST
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The Strength of the O i ?7774 Line in the Brightest Stars in the Megellanic Clouds
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1972ApJ...171..393O
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Five-colour photometry of supergiants and the dust-to-gas ratio in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1970A&A.....7...49V
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A deep objective-prism survey for Large Magellanic Cloud members
Not Available
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Grand Nuage de Magellan. Liste des etoiles membres DU Grand Nuage de Magellan et liste d'etoiles galactiques
Not Available
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The open cluster IC 2581
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1969MNRAS.146..101L
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Equivalent widths of Hγ in stellar spectra of the Magellanic Clouds
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1966MNRAS.132..433H&db_key=AST
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Mesures de vitesses radiales dans la direction du Grand Nuage de Magellan
Not Available
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Vitesses radiales dans la direction du Grand Nuage de Magellan
Not Available
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