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Times-Series Photometry & Spectroscopy of the Bright Blue Supergiant Rigel: Probing the Atmosphere and Interior of a SN II Progenitor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2010

Edward F. Guinan ,
J. A. Eaton ,
R. Wasatonic ,
H. Stewart ,
S. G. Engle  and
G. P. McCook
Edward F. Guinan
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
J. A. Eaton
Affiliation:
Center of Excellence in Information Systems, Tennessee State University, 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd., Box 9501, Nashville, TN 37209USA
R. Wasatonic
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
H. Stewart
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
S. G. Engle
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
G. P. McCook
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
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As the 7th brightest star and the most luminous star in the solar neighborhood, Rigel (β Orionis) is a very intriguing object. This blue supergiant (B8 Iab; V-mag = +0.05–0.18-mag; B–V = -0.03), at a distance (from Hipparcos) of ~240±35 pc has a 〈MV〉 = -6.7 mag. The following physical properties were determined via spectroscopic, photometric, and interferometric studies: L/L⊙ ≈ 66,000 K; Teff ≈ 12,000 K; M/M⊙ ≈ 17±3; R/R⊙ ≈ 70; τ ≈ 3–10 Myr. Interestingly Rigel has similar physical properties with the 12th mag blue supergiant progenitor of SN 1987A: Sanduleak -69° 202a. Thus Rigel (along with its co-asterism Betelgeuse) are likely to be the nearest progenitors of a Type II supernova. Such a nearby explosion would be V ≈ -11th mag (similar to a quarter moon).

Keywords

stars: atmospheresearly-typeevolutionfundamental parametersindividual (Rigel)oscillationssupernovae: generalvariables: other
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Highlights H15: Highlights of Astronomy , November 2009 , pp. 359
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010