Search for new Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars using Gaia DR3: I. Candidate selection and the follow-up of the bright sample

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F25%3A10511293" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/25:10511293 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=iV8XDZ_u9Q" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=iV8XDZ_u9Q</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202453359" target="_blank" >10.1051/0004-6361/202453359</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Search for new Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars using Gaia DR3: I. Candidate selection and the follow-up of the bright sample

Original language description

Context. Gaia DR3, released in June 2022, included low-resolution XP spectra that have been used for the classification of various types of emission-line objects through machine-learning techniques. The Gaia Extended Stellar Parametrizer for Emission-Line Stars (ESP-ELS) algorithm identified 565 sources as potential Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. Over half of them were already known as WR stars in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds. Aims. We utilized Gaia DR3 data to identify new Galactic WR stars. Methods. We extracted all sources from the Gaia catalog classified as WC- or WN-type stars by the ESP-ELS algorithm. By applying judicious 2MASS color selection criteria, leveraging Gaia H alpha measurements, and filtering out objects already cataloged in various databases, we selected 37 bright candidates (G &lt;= 16 mag) and 22 faint candidates (G &gt; 16 mag). Spectroscopic follow-up observations of these candidates were conducted using the 2SPOT facilities in Chile and France, as well as the 1 m C2PU&apos;s Epsilon telescope at the Calern Observatory. Results. This paper focuses on the brighter sample. Among the 37 targets, we confirmed 17 and 16 new Galactic WC- and WN-type WR stars, respectively. Three of them were recently reported as new WR stars in an independent study. Conclusions. The Gaia mission provides a valuable resource for identifying WR stars missed in earlier surveys. While this work concentrated on a relatively small starting sample provided by the ESP-ELS algorithm, our findings highlight the potential for refining selection criteria to identify additional candidates not included in the outputs of the algorithm. Furthermore, the observation program underscores the utility of small telescopes in acquiring initial spectral data for sources with magnitudes up to G similar to 16 mag.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10308 - Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)

Project

<a href="/en/project/GN24-10608O" target="_blank" >GN24-10608O: Probing the populations of symbiotic stars and related red giant binaries</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics

ISSN

0004-6361

e-ISSN

1432-0746

Volume of the periodical

695

Issue of the periodical within the volume

brezen

Country of publishing house

FR - FRANCE

Number of pages

18

Pages from-to

A227

UT code for WoS article

001449775600012

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105001034322