1. Rest et al. reply
- Author
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Federica B. Bianco, Howard E. Bond, D. L. Welch, Ryan Chornock, Ryan J. Foley, Armin Rest, Nathan Smith, Dante Minniti, Kaisey S. Mandel, Nolan R. Walborn, D. A. Howell, M. E. Huber, Robert Connon Smith, Wen-fai Fong, B. Sinnott, J. L. Prieto, and Ignacio Toledo
- Subjects
Physics ,Rest (physics) ,Stars ,Multidisciplinary ,Luminous blue variable ,Astronomy ,Astrophysics ,Supergiant ,Spectral line ,Line (formation) - Abstract
Replying to K. Davidson & R. M. Humphreys Nature486,http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11166(2012). In our Letter1 reporting the light echoes of η Carinae we analysed the spectral characteristics of η Carinae during the Great Eruption of the mid-1800s, and found the line content to be similar to that of G supergiant stars. This we interpret as evidence that η Carinae’s Great Eruption was not a typical luminous blue variable (LBV) outburst, because spectra similar to those of F and A supergiant stars, earlier and hotter than G-type stars, are observed in LBV eruptions of all kinds, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Davidson & Humphreys2 object that our spectral type and temperature estimate are not sufficiently robust, and that the spectral features are in agreement with their theoretical predictions.
- Published
- 2012
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