He 3-519: A Peculiar Post-LBV, Pre-WN Star?

Humphreys, Roberta M.; Davidson, Kris; Terzian, Yervant; Hajian, Arsen

United States

Abstract

We report IUE and ground-based data indicating that the star He 3-519 has a distance of roughly 8 kpc and an absolute bolometric magnitude of about -11, comparable to AG Car. Its luminosity, spectrum, and large, massive circumstellar shell indicate that this may be a post-LBV object which has not yet become a full-fledged WN star. One notable peculiarity of He 3-519 is its prominent Fe III (?) 3008 A emission; the reason why this feature is so bright in this star's dense envelope or wind, but not in other related stars, is not yet clear.

1993 The Astrophysical Journal
IUE 27