Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

IUE observations of the hot components in two symbiotic stars

Nature volume 284, pages 148–150 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent IUE observations reveal striking differences in the UV spectra of two symbiotic stars, R Aqr and RW Hya. RW Hya is found to be an unexpectedly intense source of UV radiation. The measurements reported here demonstrate the presence of a hot component in each star, supporting the view that each is a binary system with a luminous red primary and a hot, sub-luminous companion. In one case, the hot companion manifests itself by exciting a compact nebulosity; in the other case we believe that the continuous spectrum of the hot star is directly detected, while the continuum of nebulosity excited by the hot star is detected at longer wavelengths.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gregory, P. C. & Seaquist, E. R. Nature 247, 532 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Osterbrock, D. E. Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae (Freeman, San Francisco, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Merrill, P. W. Astrophys. J. 112, 514 (1950).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kylafis, N. D. & Lamb, D. Q. Astrophys. J. Lett. 228, L105 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shipman, H. L. in White Dwarfs and Variable Degenerate Stars (eds Van Horn, H. N. & Weidemann, V.) 86 (University of Rochester, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hack, M. Nature 279, 305 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yamashita, Y. & Maehara, H. Pub. Astr. Soc. Japan 31, 307 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771

    A. G. Michalitsianos, R. W. Hobbs & S. P. Maran

  2. Department of Physics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030

    M. Kafatos

Authors
  1. A. G. Michalitsianos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Kafatos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. W. Hobbs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. P. Maran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michalitsianos, A., Kafatos, M., Hobbs, R. et al. IUE observations of the hot components in two symbiotic stars. Nature 284, 148–150 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/284148a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/284148a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing