07.07.2011

First detection of Fe-VIII in photospheric spectra of stars

A&A Highlight in July 2011

"Iron abundance in the prototype PG1159 star, GW Vir pulsator PG1159-035, and related objects" (K. Werner, T. Rauch. J.W. Kruk, and R.L. Kurucz, <link http: www.aanda.org>A&A 531, A146)

This article presents the detection of Fe-VIII lines in PG 1159 stars, which are extremely hot hydrogen-deficient stars. This is the first detection of Fe-VIII in photospheric spectra of stars of any type. The estimated iron abundance is nearly solar unlike previous results, which deduced a strong iron deficit from the non-detection of Fe-VII in FUSE spectra.