Free access article

A&A 411, 193-196 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031149

The LBV nature of Romano's star (GR 290) in M 33

V. F. Polcaro¹, R. Gualandi², L. Norci³, C. Rossi⁴ and R. F. Viotti<sup>1

1</sup>  Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica, CNR, via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Roma, Italy
²  Bologna Astronomical Observatory, INAF, Loiano Observing Station, Loiano, Italy
³  Dunsink Observatory, Castleknock, Dublin 15, Ireland
⁴  Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Pz.le Aldo Moro 3, 00185 Roma, Italy

(Received 26 May 2003 / Accepted 23 July 2003)

Abstract
We report the first spectroscopic study of the LBV candidate GR 290 in M 33 ("Romano's star") taken in February 2003, showing, besides prominent hydrogen and He I emission lines, the 4630-60 Å blend and weak He II 4686 Å emission typical of Of stars. Our broad-band photometry shows that the star was observed during a phase of minimum optical luminosity, with , and a slightly positive colour index, which we tentatively attribute to an anomalous continuum energy distribution. We argue that GR 290 is indeed an LBV star presently in a high temperature phase, that should be followed - also in a short time - by ample spectroscopic and associated photometric variations.

Key words: stars: evolution -- stars: emission-lines, Be -- stars: individual: GR 290 -- stars: mass-loss -- galaxies: individual: M 33

Offprint request: V. F. Polcaro, polcaro@rm.iasf.cnr.it

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