Discovery of an extended nebula around AFGL 2343 (HD 179821) at 10 microns

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/176303· OSTI ID:278630

Hawkins, G W ^[1]; Skinner, C J ^[1]; Meixner, M M ^[2]; Jernigan, J G; Arens, J F ^[3]; Keto, E ^[4]; Graham, J R ^[5]

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1. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, P.O. Box 808, L-413, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551-9900 (United States)
2. Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
3. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, L-59, Livermore, California 94551-9900 (United States)
5. Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkely, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

We present images at 8.5, 10.5, and 12.5 {mu}m which reveal that AFGL 2343 (HD 179821) is surrounded by a dusty nebula 4{double_prime}{minus}5{double_prime} in diameter at 10.5 and 12.5 {mu}m. This G5 Ia supergiant has long been suspected of having a detached dusty envelope because of its optical brightness and large IR excess. The nebula is ringlike and slightly elongated, with bright patches or clumps to the northeast. An 8.5 {mu}m image is dominated by the photosphere of the central star, which also appears to a lesser extent in the 10.5 and 12.5 {mu}m images. A full radiative transfer model of the nebula correctly predicts the observed inner (1{close_quote}{close_quote}.1) and outer (1{close_quote}{close_quote}.9) radii of the shell and the spectral energy distribution of the shell. With the aid of this model, we find that AFGL 2343 is almost certainly an extremely massive star at a distance of about 6 kpc, which has recently undergone an enormous mass-loss event, during which {dot {ital M}}=10{sup {minus}2} {ital M}{sub {circle_dot}} yr{sup {minus}1}, while the current mass-loss rate is less than 2{times}10{sup {minus}6} {ital M}{sub {circle_dot}} yr{sup {minus}1}. {copyright} {ital 1995 The American Astronomical Society.}

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 278630
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 452; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CIRCUMSTELLAR CLOUDS
GAS FLOW
INFRARED RADIATION
MASS LOSS
NEBULAE
SUPERGIANT STARS