2006/07/24 by T. R. Geballe, F. Najarro, F. Rigaut +2 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/507764
published as Astrophys.J.652:370-375,2006 · 17 pages incl. 4 figures, to be published in ApJ 10 Nov. 2006
arxiv created 2006/07/24 · openalex publication_date 2006/11/16 · arxiv updated 2011/02/11 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Using adaptive optics at the Gemini North telescope, we have obtained a K -band spectrum of the star near the center of the luminous Galactic center bow shock IRS 8, as well as a spectrum of the bow shock itself. The stellar spectrum contains emission and absorption lines characteristic of an O5-O6 giant or supergiant. The wind from such a star is fully capable of producing the observed bow shock. However, both the early spectral type and the apparently young age of the star, if it is single, mark it as unique among hot stars within 1 pc of the center.