Massa's Star, HD 93840: A New Extreme BN Supergiant
Walborn, Nolan R.; Nichols-Bohlin, Joy; Fitzpatrick, Edward L.
United States
Abstract
New optical digital spectrograms of HD 93840 and several comparison objects are presented and discussed, together with IUE high-resolution data for the same stars. The optical observations confirm HD 93840 (BN1 Ib) as an extreme nitrogen-enhanced supergiant, as originally suggested by Massa (1989). The contrasts with HD 96248 (BC1.5 Iab) are especially striking. The rich UV stellar-wind phenomenology of these objects is discussed in some detail. The spectroscopic characteristics and intermediate galactic latitude of HD 93840 suggest a relationship to Rho Leo, and perhaps to HD 105056.