Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2005
Abstract
We have identified five new R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars in the Galactic bulge using the MACHO Project photometry database, raising the total number of known Galactic RCB stars to about 40. We have obtained spectra to confirm the identifications. The fact that four out of the five newly identified RCB stars are "cool" (T eff < 6000 K) rather than "warm" (T eff > 6000 K) suggests that the preponderance of warm RCB stars among the existing sample is a selection bias. These cool RCB stars are redder and fainter than their warm counterparts and may have been missed in surveys done with blue plates. Based on the number of new RCB stars discovered in the MACHO bulge fields, there may be ∼250 RCB stars in the reddened "exclusion" zone toward the bulge. © 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Galaxy: bulge -stars: evolution -stars: variables: other.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Astronomical Journal
First Page
2293
Last Page
2302
Recommended Citation
Zaniewski, A., Clayton, G., Welch, D., Gordon, K., Minniti, D., & Cook, K. (2005). Discovery of five new R Coronae Borealis stars in the macho galactic bulge database. Astronomical Journal, 130 (5), 2293-2302. https://doi.org/10.1086/466516