On the nebulosities associated with the extreme of star HD 148937.

Abstract

In order to understand the origin of the extreme Of star HD 148937, a study was undertaken of the interrelations between (1) its associated nebulae, including NGC 6164-5, (2) a 2 deg diameter H II region, (3) an outer dust shell, and (4) a newly identified interstellar bubble. A self-consistent model describing the interaction of HD 148937 with the surrounding interstellar bubble-H II region complex is assembled from far-UV spectroscopy of the central star, narrow-bandpass emission-line photography, and broad-band survey plates. HD 148937 is found to be less than 350,000 years old, and constraints on its luminosity suggest that it is still in the pre-main sequence contraction phase.