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One of the most massive stars in the Galaxy may have formed in isolation

  • Very massive stars, 100 times heavier than the sun, are rare. It is not yet known whether such stars can form in isolation or only in star clusters. The answer to this question is of fundamental importance. The central region of our Galaxy is ideal for investigating very massive stars and clusters located in the same environment. We used archival infrared images to investigate the surroundings of apparently isolated massive stars presently known in the Galactic Centre (GC). We find that two such isolated massive stars display bow shocks and hence may be 'runaways' from their birthplace. Thus, some isolated massive stars in the GC region might have been born in star clusters known in this region. However, no bow shock is detected around the isolated star WR 102ka (Peony nebula star), which is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Galaxy. This star is located at the centre of an associated circumstellar nebula. To study whether a star cluster may be 'hidden' in the surroundings of WR 102ka, to obtain new and better spectraVery massive stars, 100 times heavier than the sun, are rare. It is not yet known whether such stars can form in isolation or only in star clusters. The answer to this question is of fundamental importance. The central region of our Galaxy is ideal for investigating very massive stars and clusters located in the same environment. We used archival infrared images to investigate the surroundings of apparently isolated massive stars presently known in the Galactic Centre (GC). We find that two such isolated massive stars display bow shocks and hence may be 'runaways' from their birthplace. Thus, some isolated massive stars in the GC region might have been born in star clusters known in this region. However, no bow shock is detected around the isolated star WR 102ka (Peony nebula star), which is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Galaxy. This star is located at the centre of an associated circumstellar nebula. To study whether a star cluster may be 'hidden' in the surroundings of WR 102ka, to obtain new and better spectra of this star, and to measure its radial velocity, we obtained observations with the integral-field spectrograph SINFONI at the ESO's Very Large Telescope. Our observations confirm that WR 102ka is one of the most massive stars in the Galaxy and reveal that this star is not associated with a star cluster. We suggest that WR 102ka has been born in relative isolation, outside of any massive star cluster.show moreshow less

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Author details:Lida M. OskinovaORCiD, M. Steinke, Wolf-Rainer HamannORCiDGND, A. Sander, Helge Tobias TodtORCiD, Adriane Liermann
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stt1817
ISSN:0035-8711
ISSN:1365-2966
Title of parent work (English):Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher:Oxford Univ. Press
Place of publishing:Oxford
Publication type:Article
Language:English
Year of first publication:2013
Publication year:2013
Release date:2017/03/26
Tag:Galaxy: centre; infrared: stars; stars: individual: WR 102ka
Volume:436
Issue:4
Number of pages:9
First page:3357
Last Page:3365
Funding institution:NASA; National Science Foundation; DLR [50 OR 1302]; DFG [HA 1455/22]
Organizational units:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Physik und Astronomie
Peer review:Referiert
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