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The molecular envelope of the red supergiant VY CMa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2006

S. Muller
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan
Dinh-Van Trung
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan
C. Muthumariappan
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan
J. Lim
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan
N. Hirano
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan
S. Kwok
Affiliation:
Academia Sinica – Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Taiwan Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Hong Kong
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Abstract

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Millimeter and submillimeter interferometry allows to probe the environment around evolved massive stars, where optical and NIR studies might be severely limited by large extinctions due to dusty environments. We present here the morphology and kinematics of the molecular envelope around the red supergiant star VY CMa. We have used the Submillimeter Array (SMA) to map the $^{12}$CO(J=2–1) line and 1.3 mm continuum emissions with an unprecedent resolution of $<$ 2″ or 3000 AU. While the line emission presents a roughly circular shape with a radius of $\sim$ 6000 AU, the velocity structure is markedly different from that of a simple spherically expanding shell. In particular, there is a significant velocity gradient in the East-West direction, confirming the presence of a bipolar outflow.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
© 2006 International Astronomical Union