WR 20a: A massive cornerstone binary system comprising two extreme early-type stars

Open Access
Authors
  • G. Rauw
  • M. De Becker
  • Y. Nazé
  • P.A. Crowther
Publication date 2004
Journal Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume | Issue number 420
Pages (from-to) L9-L13
Organisations
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API)
Abstract We analyse spectroscopic observations of WR 20a revealing that this star is a massive early-type binary system with a most probable orbital period of ~3.675 days. Our spectra indicate that both components are most likely of WN6ha or O3If*/WN6ha spectral type. The orbital solution for a period of 3.675 days yields extremely large minimum masses of 70.7 ± 4.0 and 68.8 ± 3.8 M for the two stars. These properties make WR 20a a cornerstone system for the study of massive star evolution.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20040150
Published at http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2004A%26A...420L...9R&db_key=AST&high=3ed1d2904228539
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