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First results from the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph - Spectroscopic determination of stellar parameters of Melnick 42, an O3f star in the Large Magellanic CloudGHRS and optical (ESO 3.6 m) observations of the O3f star Melnick 42 in the 30 Doradus complex are reported. A first analysis reveals that with a luminosity of 2.3 million L(solar) and a present mass of 100 M(solar), Melnick 42 is one of the most luminous and massive stars known. An estimate of abundances indicates that iron and oxygen are very likely reduced by a factor of four relative to the sun, whereas carbon is more strongly depleted and nitrogen is approximately solar. The terminal velocity of the stellar wind is 3000 km/s. The mass-loss rate is 4 x 10 to the -6th M(solar)/yr, with a large uncertainty. The excellent quality GHRS spectrum taken in a crowded region of the LMC demonstrates the superiority of the HST for quantitative ultraviolet spectroscopy of hot stars in other galaxies.
Document ID
19910062701
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Heap, S. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Altner, B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Computer Sciences Corp. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Ebbets, D.
(Ball Aerospace Systems Group Boulder, CO, United States)
Hubeny, I.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, United States)
Hutchings, J. B.
(Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Victoria, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
August 10, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters
Volume: 377
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
91A47324
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: BMFT-01-OR-90080
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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