WR 104
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WR 104 is a Wolf-Rayet star located 8000 light years from Earth at RA 18h02m04s.07 Dec -23d37'41.2" (ICRS). It is a binary star with a class OB companion. The stars have an orbital period of 220 days and the interaction between their stellar winds produce a spiral "pinwheel" outflow pattern over 200 AU long.[1] The spiral is composed of dust that would normally be prevented from forming by WR 104's intense radiation were it not for the star's companion. The region where the stellar wind from the two massive stars interacts compresses the material enough for the dust to form, and the rotation of the system causes the spiral-shaped pattern.[2]
WR 104's rotational axis is aligned within 16° of Earth.[3] This could have potential implications to the effects of WR 104's eventual supernova, since these explosions often produce jets from their rotational poles. It is possible that WR 104 may even produce a gamma ray burst, though it is not possible to predict with certainty at this time.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ WR 104: The prototype Pinwheel Nebula
- ^ a b wr_104
- ^ Tuthill, Peter G.; John D. Monnier, Nicholas Lawrance, William C. Danchi, Stan P. Owocki, Kenneth G. Gayley (March 1 2008). "The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104". The Astrophysical Journal 675: 698–710. doi:.
