Abstract
THE Wolf–Rayet star AS431 (number 147 in ref. 1) is known to be bright at X-ray and radio wavelengths2,3, and previous radio-interferometric observations indicate that it has an extended struc-ture3. Here we report new interferometric observations of AS431 using MERLIN (the Jodrell Multi-Element Radio Linked Inter-ferometer Network), in which the sensitivity was sufficient to map the stellar thermal-continuum radio emission with a beam size of 0.1 arcsec. The object is resolved into two radio sources, separated by 0.6 arcsec, corresponding to a spatial separation of 1,100 AU at the assumed distance of 1.9 kpc. The computed brightness of the two sources, ∼10,000 K, is typical of optically thick thermal emission from a stellar wind, but compared with other observations2suggests that some part of the emission is non-thermal. One of the radio components corresponds to the position of the single source revealed by accurate optical observations. We simulate the observed total radio spectrum with a two-component model for the emission.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
van der Hucht, K. A., Conti, P. S., Lundstrom, I. & Stenholm, B. Space Sci. Rev. 28, 227–306 (1981).
Caillault, J. P. et al. Nature 313, 376–378 (1985).
Abbott, D. C., Bieging, J. H., Churchwell, E. & Torres, A. V. Astrophys. J. 303, 239–261 (1986).
Peckham, R. J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 165, 25–38 (1973).
Schwab, F. Proc. Soc. photo-opt. Instr. Engng 231, 18–24 (1980).
Högbom, J. A. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl. 15, 417–426 (1974).
Lortet, M. C., Blazit, A., Bonneau, D. & Foy, R. Astr. Astrophys. 180, 111–113 (1987).
Röser, S. & Bastian, U. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl. 74, 449–451 (1988).
Stickland, D. J., Lloyd, C. & Willis, A. J. Astr. Astrophys. 150, L9–L11 (1985).
Wright, A. E. & Barlow, M. J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 170, 41–51 (1975).
Williams, P. M., van der Hucht, K. A. & Thé, P. S. Q. JI R. astr. Soc. 28, 248–253 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moran, J., Davis, R., Bode, M. et al. MERLIN observations of the Wolf–Rayet star AS431 (WR147)-a double radio source. Nature 340, 449–450 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/340449a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/340449a0
This article is cited by
-
Circumstellar shocks: colliding stellar winds
Astrophysics and Space Science (1995)
-
Complex structure associated with the Wolf-Rayet star WR147
Astrophysics and Space Science (1994)
-
Wolf-Rayet stars
The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review (1992)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
