WR 101-2

WR 101-2[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Sagittarius
Right ascension 17h 45m 16.1s[2]
Declination −28° 49′ 09″[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Wolf-Rayet
Spectral type Ofpe/WN9[2]
Astrometry
Distance8,000[2] pc
Details
Radius79[2] R☉
Luminosity2,399,000[2] L☉
Temperature20,000[2] K
Other designations
WR 101-2, CXOGC J174516.1-284909
Database references
SIMBADdata

WR 101-2, also known as CXOGC J174516.1-284909, is a Wolf-Rayet star located in the Galactic Center, about 8,000 pc away from Earth. Its size has been estimated at 79 R☉.[2]

Properties

WR 101-2's spectral type is Ofpe/WN9,[2] signifying it as being a slash star, a Wolf-Rayet star which in this case contains extra nitrogen and helium emission in its spectrum as well as a P Cygni profile. Assuming a distance of 8,000 pc (appropriate as the massive star is apparently located in the Galactic Center, a structure known to be about 8,000 pc away), a K-band magnitude of 7.89, a K-band extinction of 1.7, and a K-band bolometric correction of -2.9, the luminosity turns out to be 2.4 million times that of the Sun (Log(L) = 6.38), making it one of the brightest stars known and certainly in the Galactic Center.[2]

WR 101-2's effective temperature was estimated to be about 20,000 K,[2] one of the coolest for any Wolf-Rayet star. The resulting radius for this is 129 R☉.

References

  1. ^ "Wolf-Rayet Star Catalogue". pacrowther.staff.shef.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mauerhan, J. C.; Muno, M. P.; Morris, M. R.; Stolovy, S. R.; Cotera, A. (2010-02-01). "Near-infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-ray Sources Toward the Galactic Center. II. Discovery of Wolf-Rayet Stars and O Supergiants". The Astrophysical Journal. 710 (1): 706–728. arXiv:0912.1055. Bibcode:2010ApJ...710..706M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/710/1/706. ISSN 0004-637X. S2CID 32339182.