WR 104
| Observation data Epoch 2000[1] Equinox 2000[1] | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 18h 02m 04.07s[1] |
| Declination | −23° 37′ 41.2″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.54 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | WCv+[1] |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 8000 ly (2400 pc) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 25 (A) M☉ |
| Radius | 3 (A) R☉ |
| Other designations | |
V* V5097 Sgr, IRAS 17590-2337, MR 80, UCAC2 22296214, CSI-23-17590, IRC -20417, MSX6C G006.4432-00.4858, Ve 2-45, Had V82, JP11 5559, RAFGL 2048[1] | |
Coordinates: 
18h 02m 04.07s, −23° 37′ 41.2″
WR 104 is a Wolf-Rayet star discovered in 1998, located 8,000 light years from Earth. 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 astronomical units long.[2] 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.[3]
Some optical measurements indicate that WR 104's rotational axis is aligned within 16° of Earth.[4] This could have potential implications to the effects of WR 104's eventual hypernova, 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.[3] Newer spectroscopic data suggest that WR 104's rotational axis is more likely angled 30–40° from Earth.[5][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "SIMBAD astronomical database". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ↑ Tuthill, Peter. "WR 104: The prototype Pinwheel Nebula". University of Sydney. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tuthill, Peter. "The Twisted Tale of Wolf-Rayet 104 — First of the Pinwheel Nebulae". University of Sydney. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ↑ 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. arXiv:0712.2111. Bibcode:2008ApJ...675..698T. doi:10.1086/527286.
- ↑ Discovery News August 4, 2009 Retrieved May 18, 2010
- ↑ Universe Today January 7, 2009 Retrieved September 3, 2010
External links
- WR 104: A nearby gamma-ray burst?
- SIMBAD WR104 page
- The prototype colliding-wind pinwheel WR 104. arXiv:0712.2111v1 astro-ph
- WR 104 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
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