Astronomers have discovered a chemically rich collection of sulfur-bearing molecules surrounding the rare massive star HD 87643. The observations include the first detection of sulfur monoxide and sulfur dioxide around a B[e] supergiant. The paper was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on July 1.
Rare and old
B[e] supergiants, or sgB[e], are rare, evolved massive stars that have moved past their main hydrogen-burning phase. They are notable for distinctive emission lines—hence the “[e]” in their name—including rare “forbidden” lines produced by the surrounding gas and dust, along with an infrared glow far more intense than that of ordinary B-type stars.
As these stars approach the final stages of their lives, they shed enormous amounts of material, building up mes...
Read More
Recent Comments