The unusual pre-main-sequence star VY Tauri

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169151· OSTI ID:6407320

Herbig, G H ^[1]

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1. Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA)

VY Tau is a pre-main-sequence star in the Taurus-Auriga clouds which differs from conventional T Tauri stars in two respects: (1) its light curve, featuring sporadic outbursts from about B = 14 to 11-12 interspersed with many years of inactivity; (2) its remarkable emission spectrum, dominated by low-level lines of Fe I, Si I, Mg I with an excitation temperature of about 2700 K. Higher excitation species such as Fe II and the Balmer lines are relatively weak. An MO V absorption spectrum is present when the star is inactive. Some very tentative models that might account for the unusual spectrum and photometric behavior are offered. Since there is no significant infrared excess, an interpretation in terms of an accretion or passive reprocessing disk is not called for. The discussion is based on old spectroscopic material, largely collected prior to 1972, when the star was last active. There is need for a modern reinvestigation at all wavelengths, particularly when the activity resumes. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6407320
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 360; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• 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
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
BALMER LINES
BRIGHTNESS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MODIFICATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPECTRA
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
T TAURI STARS
VARIABLE STARS