Hubble observations of massive stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud
This is the Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) observation of 30 Dor #016 compared with one by the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) of the similar star HDE 269810, also in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The stellar-wind features of helium, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen are identified by their chemical symbols above; the roman numerals indicate the ionisation stages, i.e., the number of electrons removed plus one. (“I” would indicate the neutral atom.) The broad emission components plus blue-shifted absorption are diagnostics of the stellar winds; the absorption forms along the line of sight to the stellar disk, where the wind is approaching us at its full speed.
The O V line is a unique feature of the hottest (O2-O3) stars.
Credit:NASA, ESA, C. Evans (Royal Observatory Edinburgh), N.Walborn (STScI) and D. Lennon (ESA/STScI)
About the Image
Id: | heic1008f |
Type: | Chart |
Release date: | 11 May 2010, 15:00 |
Related releases: | heic1008 |
Size: | 2091 x 1122 px |
About the Object
Name: | 30 Dor, Large Magellanic Cloud, STIS |
Type: | Local Universe : Star Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular |
Distance: | 170000 light years |
Category: | Stars |