Confirmation of the Luminous Blue Variable nature of AFGL 2298

Clark, J. S.; Larionov, V. M; Crowther, P. A.; Egan, M. P. and Arkharov, A. (2003). Confirmation of the Luminous Blue Variable nature of AFGL 2298. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 403(2) pp. 653–658.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20030389

Abstract

We present new photometric and spectroscopic observations of the stellar source AFGL 2298 (= IRAS 18576+0341) that has recently been proposed as a candidate Luminous Blue Variable (LBV). Our data confirm that the star is a highly luminous B supergiant which is both spectroscopically and photometrically variable. Assuming a distance of 10 kpc, comparison of the 2001 June data to synthetic spectra suggest stellar parameters of T=12.5 kK, log(L/L_⊙)=6.2 and Ṁ=5xE^-5 M_⊙ yr^-1. Data obtained in 2002 August indicate an increase in both temperature (=15 kK) and mass loss rate (=1.2xE^-4 M_⊙ yr^-1) at constant bolometric luminosity. These physical parameters place AFGL 2298 at the Humphreys-Davidson limit for the most luminous stars known. We conclude that the position of AFG 2298 in the HR diagram, the significant variability observed between 1999-2002 and presence of a massive ejection nebula are consistent with a classification of AFGL 2298 as a bona fide LBV.

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