The Chromospheric Structure and Wind of the K-Supergiant Lambda Velorum
Abstract
Recently, the 1326-1466 Å region of the FUV spectrum of the K4 Ib-II supergiant Lambda Vel was observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on HST, as part of the Ayres and Redfield Cycle 17 SNAP program "SNAPing Coronal Iron.” This spectrum covers a region not previously recorded in Lambda Vel at high resolution and, in a mere 20 minutes of exposure, reveals an amazing treasure trove of information. It shows a wide variety of strong atomic and molecular emission lines formed in the chromosphere and multiple atomic absorption lines formed in the stellar wind, both superposed on a bright chromospheric continuum. Further evidence of the stellar wind is seen in the P Cygni profiles presented by the C II (UV 1) lines near 1335 Å. We combine this COS data with archival GHRS spectra of other selected FUV and NUV regions to better characterize the outer atmospheric structure of the star and its massive, outflowing wind.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #217
- Pub Date:
- January 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AAS...21715407C