Jump to content

WR 104: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: Sky map 18h 02m 04.07s, −23° 37′ 41.2″
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Undid revision 376462861 by MakmoudHassan (talk) source did not say planet destorying
This source mentions the planet destroying effects............ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/wr104-star-a-deadly-ray-gun/story-e6frf7l6-1111115711150
Line 36: Line 36:
'''WR 104''' is a [[Wolf-Rayet star]] discovered in 1998, located 8,000 [[light year]]s 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 unit]]s long.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gekko/pinwheel.html| accessdate=August 19, 2009| title=WR 104: The prototype Pinwheel Nebula| first=Peter| last=Tuthill| authorlink=Peter Tuthill (physicist)| publisher=[[University of Sydney]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name=gekko>{{Cite web| url=http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gekko/wr104.html| accessdate=August 19, 2009| title=The Twisted Tale of Wolf-Rayet 104 — First of the Pinwheel Nebulae| first=Peter| last=Tuthill| publisher=[[University of Sydney]]}}</ref>
'''WR 104''' is a [[Wolf-Rayet star]] discovered in 1998, located 8,000 [[light year]]s 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 unit]]s long.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gekko/pinwheel.html| accessdate=August 19, 2009| title=WR 104: The prototype Pinwheel Nebula| first=Peter| last=Tuthill| authorlink=Peter Tuthill (physicist)| publisher=[[University of Sydney]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name=gekko>{{Cite web| url=http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~gekko/wr104.html| accessdate=August 19, 2009| title=The Twisted Tale of Wolf-Rayet 104 — First of the Pinwheel Nebulae| first=Peter| last=Tuthill| publisher=[[University of Sydney]]}}</ref>


Some optical measurements indicate that WR 104's rotational axis is aligned within 16° of Earth.<ref>{{cite journal| title=The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104| first=Peter G.| last= Tuthill| coauthors=John D. Monnier, Nicholas Lawrance, William C. Danchi, Stan P. Owocki, Kenneth G. Gayley | journal=[[The Astrophysical Journal]]| volume=675| pages=698–710| date=March 1, 2008| doi=10.1086/527286}}</ref> 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.<ref name=gekko/> Newer spectroscopic data suggest that WR 104's rotational axis is angled more like 30–40° from Earth.<ref>[http://news.discovery.com/space/gamma-ray-wolf-rayet.html Discovery News] August 4, 2009 Retrieved May 18, 2010</ref>
Some optical measurements indicate that WR 104's rotational axis is aligned within 16° of Earth.<ref>{{cite journal| title=The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104| first=Peter G.| last= Tuthill| coauthors=John D. Monnier, Nicholas Lawrance, William C. Danchi, Stan P. Owocki, Kenneth G. Gayley | journal=[[The Astrophysical Journal]]| volume=675| pages=698–710| date=March 1, 2008| doi=10.1086/527286}}</ref> 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 "planet destroying" [[gamma-ray burst]], though it is not possible to predict with certainty at this time.<ref name=gekko/> Newer spectroscopic data suggest that WR 104's rotational axis is angled more like 30–40° from Earth.<ref>[http://news.discovery.com/space/gamma-ray-wolf-rayet.html Discovery News] August 4, 2009 Retrieved May 18, 2010</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:32, 31 July 2010

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]
Characteristics
Spectral type WCv+[1]
Astrometry
Distance8000 ly
(2400 pc)
Details
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]


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 supernova, since these explosions often produce jets from their rotational poles. It is possible that WR 104 may even produce a "planet destroying" 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 angled more like 30–40° from Earth.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "SIMBAD astronomical database". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  2. ^ Tuthill, Peter. "WR 104: The prototype Pinwheel Nebula". University of Sydney. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Tuthill, Peter. "The Twisted Tale of Wolf-Rayet 104 — First of the Pinwheel Nebulae". University of Sydney. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  4. ^ Tuthill, Peter G. (March 1, 2008). "The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104". The Astrophysical Journal. 675: 698–710. doi:10.1086/527286. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Discovery News August 4, 2009 Retrieved May 18, 2010