Issue |
A&A
Volume 525, January 2011
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A17 | |
Number of page(s) | 6 | |
Section | Galactic structure, stellar clusters and populations | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201015656 | |
Published online | 26 November 2010 |
Massive runaway stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
1
Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Universität Bonn,
Auf dem Hügel 71,
53121
Bonn,
Germany
e-mail: jpflamm@astro.uni-bonn.de; pavel@astro.uni-bonn.de
2
Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University,
Universitetskij Pr. 13, Moscow
119992,
Russia
e-mail: vgvaram@mx.iki.rssi.ru
3
Isaac Newton Institute of Chile, Moscow Branch, Universitetskij
Pr. 13, Moscow
119992,
Russia
Received:
27
August
2010
Accepted:
10
October
2010
Using archival Spitzer Space Telescope data, we identified for the first time a dozen runaway OB stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) through the detection of their bow shocks. The geometry of detected bow shocks allows us to infer the direction of motion of the associated stars and to determine their possible parent clusters and associations. One of the identified runaway stars, AzV 471, was already known as a high-velocity star on the basis of its high peculiar radial velocity, which is offset by ≃40 km s-1 from the local systemic velocity. We discuss implications of our findings for the problem of the origin of field OB stars. Several of the bow shock-producing stars are found in the confines of associations, suggesting that these may be “alien” stars contributing to the age spread observed for some young stellar systems. We also report the discovery of a kidney-shaped nebula attached to the early WN-type star SMC-WR3 (AzV 60a). We interpreted this nebula as an interstellar structure created owing to the interaction between the stellar wind and the ambient interstellar medium.
Key words: stars: formation / stars: kinematics and dynamics / stars: massive / Magellanic Clouds
© ESO, 2010
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