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Issue A&A
Volume 427, Number 3, December I 2004
Page(s) 849 - 853
Section Interstellar and circumstellar matter
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20041713



A&A 427, 849-853 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20041713

The nature of the KW object

R. Chini1, V. H. Hoffmeister1, K. Kämpgen1, S. Kimeswenger2, M. Nielbock1 and R. Siebenmorgen3

1  Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150/NA 7, 44780 Bochum, Germany
    e-mail: chini@astro.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
2  Institut für Astrophysik, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
3  European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, 85748 Garching, Germany

(Received 15 January 2004 / Accepted 2 August 2004)

Abstract
The KW object, which has been one of the most puzzling infrared sources for three decades, has been resolved into a system of two early B-type stars with a projected separation of 2600 AU. While the more luminous component shows a huge IR excess due to circumstellar dust, the fainter one displays X-ray emission. The system is deeply embedded ( $A_{\rm V} \sim 24$ mag) in the molecular cloud M 17 SW and associated with an IR reflection nebula. A radiative transfer model of the spectral energy distribution of the IR excess object requires a stellar source of 5.1  $\times$ $10^3~L_\odot$ - equivalent to a B0 star - surrounded by 10  $M_\odot$ of circumstellar material. The KW object is associated with a small cluster of about 150 red stars. The stellar density within 0.1 pc is > 2.4  $\times$ 103 pc -3. From all new evidence we suggest that the KW object is one of the youngest, most deeply embedded Herbig Be stars known to date.


Key words: stars: formation -- stars: circumstellar matter -- stars: pre-main sequence -- infrared: stars -- Galaxy: open clusters and associations: general

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© ESO 2004

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