Superluminous giant in magellanic cloud clusters

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183647· OSTI ID:5626224

Flower, P J

The C-M diagram of the LMC blue, globular-like cluster NGC 1866 is known to exhibit a large number of yellow and red core helium-burning giants. Short exposure photographic plates taken with the CTIO 4 m Ritchey-Chretien camera provide an opportunity to study the stellar content of the central region of this cluster. In and near the core of NGC 1866, 11 superluminous giants (SLGs), apparently similar to those found in other LMC blue, globular-like clusters, have been identified. These stars lie more than 0.5 mag above the core helium-burning giants. It is proposed that SLGs are protoplantary nebulae; i.e., stars that, having ejected their envelopes as luminous red giants, are crossing the C-M diagram toward becoming central star planetary nebulae.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University
• OSTI ID: 5626224
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 249:1; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DIAGRAMS
GALAXIES
GIANT STARS
HELIUM BURNING
HERTZSPRUNG-RUSSELL DIAGRAM
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
NEBULAE
PLANETARY NEBULAE
STAR BURNING
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS