Article, 2024

Yellow hypergiant V509 Cas: Stable in the yellow voida

Astronomy and Astrophysics, ISSN 0004-6361, Volume 686, 10.1051/0004-6361/202348775

Contributors

Kasikov A. 0000-0002-1823-3975 (Corresponding author) [1] [2] [3] Kolka I. [3] Aret A. 0000-0002-6104-298X [3] Eenmae T. 0000-0001-9948-0443 [3] Checha V. 0000-0002-2530-8007 [3]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Aarhus University
  2. [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [2] Nordic Optical Telescope
  4. [NORA names: Spain; Europe, EU; OECD];
  5. [3] University of Tartu
  6. [NORA names: Estonia; Europe, EU; OECD]

Abstract

Context. The yellow hypergiant star V509 Cas is currently undergoing an extreme phase of evolution. Having experienced eruptive mass-loss outbursts in the 20th century, the star's effective temperature reached record high values in the early 2000s. However, since then, the star's behaviour has displayed an unprecedented level of stability. In spite of that, the star could be traversing through the yellow void' instability region. Aims. To describe the current evolutionary state of V509 Cas, we analysed its variability using photometric and spectroscopic data collected over recent years. By comparing our findings with historical records, we aim to determine whether the star's surface shows signs of stabilisation. Additionally, we investigate the variability of emission components in the wings of certain spectral lines to highlight the contribution of the circumstellar gaseous disc to this phenomenon. Methods. Our spectroscopic monitoring observations were carried out at Tartu Observatory over the course of seven years, supplemented by echelle spectra obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope, as well as publicly available photometric data from Gaia, AAVSO, and AAVSO's Bright Star Monitor programme. We estimated the variability of effective temperature and radial velocity from the spectral time series and correlated it with the brightness variability of V509 Cas. Results. The results indicate that the star's average brightness level has remained stable throughout the observed period, with an amplitude of variability ∼0.1 mag. While the amplitude of short-Term temperature fluctuations has decreased compared to the early 2000s, the variability of the radial velocity remains similar to historical values from the early 20th century. Moreover, we show how the variable radial velocity a-ects the emission components in some absorption lines (e.g. Sc ii) and how that follows the hypothesis of a disc surrounding the star.

Keywords

Methods: observational, Stars: Atmospheres, Stars: evolution, Stars: individual: HR 8752, Stars: massive, Supergiants

Funders

  • Eesti Teadusagentuur
  • NASA
  • Aarhus Universitet
  • European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020
  • Stockholms Universitet
  • Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
  • Turun Yliopisto
  • Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium
  • STScI
  • European Space Agency
  • Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • University of Oslo
  • H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
  • DPAC
  • University of Iceland
  • KosEST

Data Provider: Elsevier