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| Paper: |
Spectral Identification of New Galactic cLBV and WR Stars |
| Volume: |
465, Four Decades of Massive Star Research - A Scientific Meeting in Honor of Anthony J. Moffat |
| Page: |
514 |
| Authors: |
Stringfellow, G. S.; Gvaramadze, V. V.; Beletsky, Y.; Kniazev, A. Y. |
| Abstract: |
We have undertaken a near-IR spectral survey of
stars associated with compact nebulae recently revealed by the
Spitzer and WISE imaging surveys. These circumstellar
nebulae, produced by massive evolved stars, display a variety of
symmetries and shapes and are often only evident at mid-IR
wavelengths. Stars associated with ∼50 of these nebulae have
been observed. We also obtained recent spectra of previously
confirmed (known) luminous blue variables (LBVs) and candidate
LBVs (cLBVs). The spectral similarity of the stars observed when
compared directly to known LBVs and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars
indicate many are newly identified cLBVs, with a few being newly
discovered WR stars, mostly of WN8-9h spectral type. These results
suggest that a large population of previously unidentified cLBVs
and related transitional stars reside in the Galaxy and confirm
that circumstellar nebulae are inherent to most (c)LBVs. |
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