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B Star Rotational Velocities in h and χ Persei: A Probe of Initial Conditions during the Star Formation Epoch?
Projected rotational velocities (vsini) have been measured for 216 B0-B9stars in the rich, dense h and χ Persei double cluster and comparedwith the distribution of rotational velocities for a sample of fieldstars having comparable ages (t~12-15 Myr) and masses (M~4-15Msolar). For stars that are relatively little evolved fromtheir initial locations on the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) (those withmasses M~4-5 Msolar), the mean vsini measured for the h andχ Per sample is slightly more than 2 times larger than the meandetermined for field stars of comparable mass, and the cluster and fieldvsini distributions differ with a high degree of significance. Forsomewhat more evolved stars with masses in the range 5-9Msolar, the mean vsini in h and χ Per is 1.5 times thatof the field; the vsini distributions differ as well, but with a lowerdegree of statistical significance. For stars that have evolvedsignificantly from the ZAMS and are approaching the hydrogen exhaustionphase (those with masses in the range 9-15 Msolar), thecluster and field star means and distributions are only slightlydifferent. We argue that both the higher rotation rates and the patternof rotation speeds as a function of mass that differentiatemain-sequence B stars in h and χ Per from their field analogs werelikely imprinted during the star formation process rather than a resultof angular momentum evolution over the 12-15 Myr cluster lifetime. Wespeculate that these differences may reflect the effects of the higheraccretion rates that theory suggests are characteristic of regions thatgive birth to dense clusters, namely, (1) higher initial rotationspeeds; (2) higher initial radii along the stellar birth line, resultingin greater spin-up between the birth line and the ZAMS; and (3) a morepronounced maximum in the birth line radius-mass relationship thatresults in differentially greater spin-up for stars that become mid- tolate-B stars on the ZAMS.

NaI and CaII absorption components observed towards the Orion-Eridanus Superbubble
We present medium-resolution spectra (R ~ 7.5 km s-1) of theinterstellar NaI and CaII interstellar absorption lines observed towards16 early-type stars with distances of 160-1 kpc in the line-of-sighttowards the Orion-Eridanus Superbubble (OE-S). These data have beensupplemented with measurements of NaI absorption towards a further 13stars with similar sight-lines taken from the literature. We detect twomajor absorption components with velocities of Vlsr ~ +7.0and -8.0 km s-1. The former component, seen in 70% of thesight-lines is associated with the boundary to the Local Bubble cavitylocated at a distance of 140-150 pc. The other absorption component isonly detected towards a limited region of the sky bounded by (190°< l < 215°) and (-50° < b < -30°). If gas withthis velocity is associated with an outer expansion shell of the OE-S,then we can place its distance at 163-180 pc in agreement with theestimate by Guo et al. (1995, ApJ, 453, 256). Several other negativevelocity components at Vlsr ~ -20.4, -28.5 and -33.5 kms-1 have also been detected for sight-line distances > 220pc within an area coincident with that of the 0.75 keV X-ray enhancementof the OE-S. Column density ratios, N(NaI)/N(CaII), for the mostnegative velocity components have values < 1.0, suggesting that thisgas has been disrupted by a possible shock event. Our data do notsupport a simple model for the OE-S that involves a single stellarbubble cavity that stretches from the Orion Nebula to high galacticlatitudes. Instead, our detection of multiple positive and negativevelocity components suggests the presence of several gas shells producedby supernovae and/or stellar wind-driven shocks. We also confirm thatthe prominent "hook-like" feature of H-α emission thatcharacterizes the OE-S, in in fact composed of two physically separateemission arcs, with the brighter Arc A being at a distance > 500 pc.Finally, we place a similar distance limit for any coherently structuredrear shell of neutral gas associated with expansion of the OE-S towardsthe galactic halo.

The VLT-FLAMES survey of massive stars: Observations in the Galactic clusters NGC 3293, NGC 4755 and NGC 6611
We introduce a new survey of massive stars in the Galaxy and theMagellanic Clouds using the Fibre Large Array Multi-Element Spectrograph(FLAMES) instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Here we presentobservations of 269 Galactic stars with the FLAMES-Giraffe Spectrograph(R ≃ 25 000), in fields centered on the open clusters NGC 3293,NGC 4755 and NGC 6611. These data are supplemented by a further 50targets observed with the Fibre-Fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph(FEROS, R = 48 000). Following a description of our scientificmotivations and target selection criteria, the data reduction methodsare described; of critical importance the FLAMES reduction pipeline isfound to yield spectra that are in excellent agreement with lessautomated methods. Spectral classifications and radial velocitymeasurements are presented for each star, with particular attention paidto morphological peculiarities and evidence of binarity. Theseobservations represent a significant increase in the known spectralcontent of NGC 3293 and NGC 4755, and will serve as standards againstwhich our subsequent FLAMES observations in the Magellanic Clouds willbe compared.

The total-to-selective extinction ratio determined from near IR photometry of OB stars
The paper presents an extensive list of the total to selectiveextinction ratios R calculated from the infrared magnitudes of 597 O andB stars using the extrapolation method. The IR magnitudes of these starswere taken from the literature. The IR colour excesses are determinedwith the aid of "artificial standards" - Wegner (1994). The individualand mean values of total to selective extinction ratios R differ in mostcases from the average value R=3.10 +/-0.05 - Wegner (1993) in differentOB associations. The relation between total to selective extinctionratios R determined in this paper and those calculated using the "methodof variable extinction" and the Cardelli et al. (1989) formulae isdiscussed. The R values presented in this paper can be used to determineindividual absolute magnitudes of reddened OB stars with knowntrigonometric parallaxes.

Metallicities of the SPB stars from the IUE ultraviolet spectra
We derived the stellar parameters (angular diameters, effectivetemperatures, metallicities) and interstellar reddenings for 20 SPB and34 reference stars observed during the IUE satellite mission. Theparameters were derived by means of an algorithmic procedure of fittingtheoretical flux distributions to the low-resolution IUE spectra andoptical spectrophotometric observations. Since the metallicity [m/H] hasa special importance for pulsating B type stars, we focused ourattention on that parameter. We found that the mean value of themetallicity of the considered SPB and reference stars amounts to [m/H] ~-0.20. The results only slightly depend on the reduction procedure usedfor the IUE images (NEWSIPS and INES). The metal abundances obtained inthis paper are in accordance with the average value of -0.2 dex forstars in the solar neighborhood recently reported by otherinvestigators.Tables 3-7 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/404/689

Rotational Velocities of B Stars
We measured the projected rotational velocities of 1092 northern B starslisted in the Bright Star Catalogue (BSC) and calibrated them againstthe 1975 Slettebak et al. system. We found that the published values ofB dwarfs in the BSC average 27% higher than those standards. Only 0.3%of the stars have rotational velocities in excess of two-thirds of thebreakup velocities, and the mean velocity is only 25% of breakup,implying that impending breakup is not a significant factor in reducingrotational velocities. For the B8-B9.5 III-V stars the bimodaldistribution in V can be explained by a set of slowly rotating Ap starsand a set of rapidly rotating normal stars. For the B0-B5 III-V starsthat include very few peculiar stars, the distributions in V are notbimodal. Are the low rotational velocities of B stars due to theoccurrence of frequent low-mass companions, planets, or disks? Therotational velocities of giants originating from late B dwarfs areconsistent with their conservation of angular momentum in shells.However, we are puzzled by why the giants that originate from the earlyB dwarfs, despite having 3 times greater radii, have nearly the samerotational velocities. We find that all B-type primaries in binarieswith periods less than 2.4 days have synchronized rotational and orbitalmotions; those with periods between 2.4 and 5.0 days are rotating withina factor 2 of synchronization or are ``nearly synchronized.'' Thecorresponding period ranges for A-type stars are 4.9 and 10.5 days, ortwice as large. We found that the rotational velocities of the primariesare synchronized earlier than their orbits are circularized. The maximumorbital period for circularized B binaries is 1.5 days and for Abinaries is 2.5 days. For stars of various ages from 107.5 to1010.2 yr the maximum circularized periods are a smoothexponential function of age.

Spectroscopic monitoring of 10 new northern slowly pulsating B star candidates discovered from the HIPPARCOS mission
A one-year follow-up campaign of high-resolution, high-signal-to-noisespectroscopy for 10 candidate slowly pulsating B stars, which werediscovered from the HIPPARCOS astrometric mission, shows that all starsexhibit line-profile variability. From our data, and from the HIPPARCOSphotometry, we conclude that all but one of the targets provide evidenceof multiperiodicity, with periods of the order of days, confirming theirpulsational nature. Thus they are confirmed slowly pulsating B stars. Wesummarize the pulsation periods and Q-values and select the mostinteresting targets for very-long-term follow-up observations with thegoal of performing asteroseismology. Based on observations obtained atthe Observatoire de Haute-Provence.

Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521

Surface abundances of light elements for a large sample of early B-type stars - I. Spectral observations of 123 stars; measurements of hydrogen and helium lines; infrared photometry
High-resolution spectral observations of 123 B0-B5 stars in the mainsequence evolutionary phase were obtained at two observatories, namelythe McDonald Observatory (McDO) and the Crimean AstrophysicalObservatory (CrAO). Accurate equivalent widths W of two Balmer lines,Hβ and Hγ, and ten Hei lines were obtained for all the stars,as well as of the Heiiλ4686 line for the hottest ones. A carefulanalysis of the measured equivalent widths was performed. It is shownthat there is a very good agreement between the W values derived fromthe McDO and CrAO spectra for 14 common stars. A comparison withpublished data leads to the conclusion that the W values measuredearlier by some authors for strong Hei lines are very likely to beunderestimated. Infrared photometric observations in the J, H, and Kbands were performed for 70 programme stars. All these data will be usedin other papers: in particular for the Teff and loggdetermination and for the He, C, N and O abundance analyses.

The 74th Special Name-list of Variable Stars
We present the Name-list introducing GCVS names for 3153 variable starsdiscovered by the Hipparcos mission.

A Second Catalog of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 Filter Photometry: Ultraviolet Photometry of 614 Stars
Ultraviolet photometry from the Wisconsin Experiment Package on theOrbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 (OAO 2) is presented for 614 stars.Previously unpublished magnitudes from 12 filter bandpasses withwavelengths ranging from 1330 to 4250 Å have been placed on thewhite dwarf model atmosphere absolute flux scale. The fluxes wereconverted to magnitudes using V=0 for F(V)=3.46x10^-9 ergs cm^-2 s^-1Å^-1, or m_lambda=-2.5logF_lambda-21.15. This second catalogeffectively doubles the amount of OAO 2 photometry available in theliterature and includes many objects too bright to be observed withmodern space observatories.

The interstellar clouds of ADAMS and Blaauw revisited: an HI absorption study - II.
Not Available

The interstellar clouds of ADAMS and Blaauw revisited: an HI absorption study - I.
Not Available

An extensive Delta a-photometric survey of southern B and A type bright stars
Photoelectric photometry of 803 southern BS objects in the Deltaa-system as detection tool for magnetic chemically peculiar (=CP2) starshas been carried out and compared to published spectral types. Thestatistical yield of such objects detected by both techniques ispractically the same. We show that there are several factors whichcontaminate the search for these stars, but this contamination is onlyof the order of 10% in both techniques. We find a smooth transition fromnormal to peculiar stars. Our sample exhibits the largest fraction ofCP2 stars at their bluest colour interval, i.e. 10% of all stars in thecolour range -0.19 <= B-V < -0.10 or -0.10 <= b-y < -0.05.No peculiar stars based on the Delta a-criterion were found at bluercolours. Towards the red side the fraction of CP2 stars drops to about3% for positive values of B-V or b-y with red limits roughlycorresponding to normal stars of spectral type A5. The photometricbehaviour of other peculiar stars: Am, HgMn, delta Del, lambda Boo, Heabnormal stars, as well as Be/shell stars and supergiants shows someslight, but definite deviations from normal stars. Spectroscopic andvisual binaries are not distinguished from normal stars in their Delta abehaviour. The results of this work justify larger statistical work(e.g. in open clusters) employing more time-saving photometric methods(CCD). \newpage Based on observations obtained at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile. This research has made use of the Simbaddatabase, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. Table 2 is only availablein electronic form via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5 orhttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html

Study of an unbiased sample of B stars observed with Hipparcos: the discovery of a large amount of new slowly pulsating B stars
We present a classification of 267 new variable B-type stars discoveredby Hipparcos. We have used two different classification schemes and theyboth result in only a few new beta Cephei stars, a huge number of newslowly pulsating B stars, quite some supergiants with alpha Cyg-typevariations and variable CP stars, and further some new periodic Be starsand eclipsing binaries. Our results clearly point out the biased naturetowards short-period variables of earlier, ground-based surveys ofvariable stars. The position of the new beta Cephei stars and slowlypulsating B stars in the HR diagram is determined by means of Genevaphotometry and is confronted with the most recent calculations of theinstability strips for both groups of variables. We find that the newbeta Cephei stars are situated in the blue part of the instability stripand that the new slowly pulsating B stars almost fully cover thetheoretical instability domain determined for such stars. Thesupergiants with alpha Cyg-type variations are situated between theinstability strips of the beta Cephei and the slowly pulsating B starson the one hand and previously known supergiants that exhibitmicrovariations on the other hand. This suggests some connection betweenthe variability caused by the kappa mechanism acting in a zone ofpartially ionised metals and the unknown cause of the variations insupergiants.

The Mass of the Classical Cepheid S MUSCAE
A good determination of the mass-luminosity relation for evolved starson blue loops can determine the degree of excess mixing in the interiorsof their main-sequence companions. In this study we determine thedynamical mass of the Cepheid binary S Muscae. This can be combined withits known luminosity and be fitted on evolutionary tracks to determinethe amount of mixing in the main-sequence progenitor. Using the GoddardHigh Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope we havemeasured the orbital radial velocity changes for the companion of theCepheid S Mus. Spectra taken at minimum and maximum orbital velocitieswere cross-correlated. The velocity difference was measured to be 30.6+/- 0.4 km s-1. The difference for the orbital velocities of the Cepheidfor the same phases was determined to be 26.9 km s-1 +/- 0.4 km s-1.This gives a velocity ratio of 1.14 +/- 0.02, which gives us the massratio for the companions. Adding possible centering errors of the targetin the entrance apertures the error limit would be increased to +/-0.06.The derived spectral types of the companion S Mus B range from B3 V toB5 V depending on the criterion used to determine it, with an averagespectral type B3.8 V. Using the average spectral type and themain-sequence mass-spectral type relation from Andersen & Harmanecwe find for S Mus B a mass of 5.2 +/- 0.2 Mȯ. With the newlydetermined mass ratio the mass for the Cepheid S Mus A comes out to be5.9^{+0.7}_{-0.6} Mȯ. Taking the mass of 5.9 Mȯ at face valueand adopting the absolute visual magnitude of Mv = -4.29 (log L/Lȯ= 3.62) for the Cepheid S Mus this indicates mixing in its main-sequenceprogenitor slightly in excess of the one assumed for the Maeder andMeynet evolutionary tracks. The present uncertainties in mass andluminosity prevent, however, a firm conclusion about the exact degree ofmixing.

Rotational Velocity Determinations for 164 Be and B Stars
Rotational velocities, v sin i, have been obtained for 96 Be and 68normal B stars by measurements of the FWHM of the He I lambda-4471 line(for spectral types B0-B4.5) and Mg II lambda-4481 (for types B5-B9.5).The consistency of various published sources is examined. (SECTION:Stars)

The Distribution of Dust Clouds in the Interstellar Medium
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996ApJ...457..764D&db_key=AST

The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of optically bright OB-type stars.
For the detailed statistical analysis of the X-ray emission of hot starswe selected all stars of spectral type O and B listed in the Yale BrightStar Catalogue and searched for them in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. Inthis paper we describe the selection and preparation of the data andpresent a compilation of the derived X-ray data for a complete sample ofbright OB stars.

Spectrophotometry of blue straggler candidates in NGC 6397
An attempt to determine spectroscopically the mass/luminosity ratios,and hence masses of candidate blue straggler (BS) stars in the globularcluster NGC 6397 is described. Measures of the radial velocities ofstars selected from the photometry of Alcaino et al. (1987) are combinedwith abundances derived from the Ca II K line to identify 4 probable and3 possible cluster members from a list of 19 photometric candidates. Themass of these stars is found to range from 0.62 to 1.15 solar mass. Themasses are generally higher than the turnoff mass of the cluster,supporting binary hypotheses of the origin of BS stars, and areconsistent with the relative central concentration of BS stars inglobular clusters.

Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.

S MUS B revisited
IUE high dispersion spectra have been used to investigate the spectraltype of the companion of the classical Cepheid S Mus, using Si II andIII lines near 1300 A. In addition, the energy distribution from 1200 to3200 A from IUE low resolution spectra has also been compared withstandard stars. The resulting spectral type is B3.5 V (with a reddeningof E(B-V) = 0.21 mag). Using the magnitude difference between the twostars and the Cepheid luminosity, the binary components are comparedwith evolutionary tracks computed by four groups. A mass between 5.5 and6.0 solar masses results from all tracks. On the other hand, therelatively small luminosity difference between the two stars is onlyconsistent with tracks with minimal convective overshoot and a companionnearing the end of the main sequence phase.

Photographic Observations of NSV 1671
Not Available

Effective temperature and gravity from c(0) and beta indices for B-type stars
A sample of nonsupergiant B-type stars of solar chemical composition hasbeen analyzed for T(eff) and gravity differences due to the use of c(0)and beta indices from different photometric grids. The Moon andDworetsky (1985) grid, as well as an extension of the grid, are found toyield T(eff)s closer to those derived with other methods than the Lesteret al. (1986) grid; in addition, the former grid yields gravities thatare closer to values in the literature than the latter grid. A modifiedversion of the TEFFLOGG code of Moon (1985), which employs polynomialfunctions of the Stromgren indices, yields both T(eff) and gravity forthe present sample of B-type stars.

The frequency and formation mechanism of B2-B5 main-sequence binaries
Twenty coude spectra were obtained for each of the 74 B2-B5 IV or Vstars, and the results of their radial velocities were combined withthose of a previous study of 42 similar stars, to examine the frequencyand the formation mechanism of these binaries. New improved orbitalelements are listed for nine known double-lined and 26 single-linedspectroscopic binaries. It is found that, systems with periods of 0.01yr to 100,000 yrs, have secondary frequencies that fit the Salpeter(1955) luminosity function (but not the van Rhijn function), indicatingthat these systems were formed primarily by capture. For systems withperiods shorter than 0.01 yr, the separations of components are only afew stellar radii, suggesting that these systems have undergone masstransfer; their secondary masses have no direct information concerningthe formation mechanism.

Empirical temperature calibrations for early-type stars
Three temperature calibrations of suitable photometric quantities havebeen derived for O and B stars. A sample of 120 stars with reliableT(eff.) determinations has been used for establishing each calibration.The different calibrations have been critically discussed and compared.Temperature determinations for 1009 program stars have been obtainedwith an accuracy of the order of 10 percent.

The UV silicon spectra of early B stars
Equivalent widths of UV silicon lines obtained from high dispersion IUESWP spectra for a sample of 37 mid- to early B stars are presented.These are compared to other atmospheric diagnostics and to modelatmosphere calculations. It is found that some of the UV silicon linesare extremely sensitive to stellar temperature and luminosity over therange B5-B0.5, or roughly a factor of two in effective temperature. Thepotential usefulness of these lines is stressed, and it is demonstratedthat they could determine temperatures and surface gravities to the sameaccuracy as other commonly used diagnostics once adequate models becomeavailable. Although the available models fail to predict thequantitative behavior of the line strengths, they do, in most instances,describe their qualitative behavior. Since the existing models aresomewhat out of date, the results suggest that models based upon morecomplete opacity tables may be quite reliable.

The UV silicon spectra of early B stars
The UV silicon spectra of mid to early B stars are examined and comparedto models. It is found that lines are extremely sensitive to stellartemperature and luminosity. Although the models fail to predict thequantitative behavior of the line strengths, they do, in most instances,describe their qualitative behavior.

Galactic interstellar abundance surveys with IUE. II - The equivalent widths and column densities
This paper continues a survey of interstellar densities, abundances, andcloud structure in the Galaxy, using the International UltravioletExplorer (IUE) satellite. Equivalent widths of 18 ultraviolet resonancetransitions are presented and column densities for Si II, Mn II, Fe II,S II, and Zn II toward 261 early-type stars are derived. Theseequivalent widths and column densities agree within the stated errors ofearlier Copernicus, BUSS, or IUE surveys of Mn II, Fe II, S II, and ZnII for 45 stars in common. The column densities are derived fromsingle-component curves of growth with a common b-value based on that ofFe II and Si II.

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Observation and Astrometry data

Constellation:Taurus
Right ascension:04h03m44.60s
Declination:+05°26'08.0"
Apparent magnitude:5.33
Distance:320.513 parsecs
Proper motion RA:3
Proper motion Dec:-7
B-T magnitude:5.199
V-T magnitude:5.293

Catalogs and designations:
Proper Names   (Edit)
Flamsteed40 Tau
HD 1989HD 25558
TYCHO-2 2000TYC 79-826-1
USNO-A2.0USNO-A2 0900-00921232
BSC 1991HR 1253
HIPHIP 18957

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