The Infrared-bright SW Knots in the Complex Ejecta of VY CMa

Roberta M. Humphreys; Terry J. Jones; Kris Davidson; A. M.S. Richards; R. Ravi; A. P. Singh; L. M. Ziurys

doi:10.3847/1538-3881/adbbf1

The Infrared-bright SW Knots in the Complex Ejecta of VY CMa

Roberta M. Humphreys
, Terry J. Jones
, Kris Davidson
, A. M.S. Richards
, R. Ravi
, A. P. Singh
, L. M. Ziurys

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The red hypergiant VY CMa is remarkable for its very visible record of high-mass-loss events observed over the range of wavelengths from the optical and infrared to the submillimeter region with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The SW Clump or SW knots are unique in the ejecta of VY CMa. Except for the central star, they are the brightest sources of dusty infrared emission in its complex ejecta. In this paper we combine the proper motions from the Hubble Space Telescope images, and infrared fluxes from 2 to 12 μm with the ¹²CO images from ALMA to determine their ages and mass estimates. The SW knots were ejected more than 200 yr ago with an active period lasting about 30 yr, and with a total mass in the Clump > 2 × 10⁻² M_⊙.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	230
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	169
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/adbbf1
State	Published - Apr 1 2025

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/1538-3881/adbbf1

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title = "The Infrared-bright SW Knots in the Complex Ejecta of VY CMa",

abstract = "The red hypergiant VY CMa is remarkable for its very visible record of high-mass-loss events observed over the range of wavelengths from the optical and infrared to the submillimeter region with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The SW Clump or SW knots are unique in the ejecta of VY CMa. Except for the central star, they are the brightest sources of dusty infrared emission in its complex ejecta. In this paper we combine the proper motions from the Hubble Space Telescope images, and infrared fluxes from 2 to 12 μm with the 12CO images from ALMA to determine their ages and mass estimates. The SW knots were ejected more than 200 yr ago with an active period lasting about 30 yr, and with a total mass in the Clump > 2 × 10−2 M⊙.",

author = "Humphreys, \{Roberta M.\} and Jones, \{Terry J.\} and Kris Davidson and Richards, \{A. M.S.\} and R. Ravi and Singh, \{A. P.\} and Ziurys, \{L. M.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",

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AU - Humphreys, Roberta M.

AU - Jones, Terry J.

AU - Davidson, Kris

AU - Richards, A. M.S.

AU - Ravi, R.

AU - Singh, A. P.

AU - Ziurys, L. M.

PY - 2025/4/1

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AB - The red hypergiant VY CMa is remarkable for its very visible record of high-mass-loss events observed over the range of wavelengths from the optical and infrared to the submillimeter region with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The SW Clump or SW knots are unique in the ejecta of VY CMa. Except for the central star, they are the brightest sources of dusty infrared emission in its complex ejecta. In this paper we combine the proper motions from the Hubble Space Telescope images, and infrared fluxes from 2 to 12 μm with the 12CO images from ALMA to determine their ages and mass estimates. The SW knots were ejected more than 200 yr ago with an active period lasting about 30 yr, and with a total mass in the Clump > 2 × 10−2 M⊙.

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ER -

The Infrared-bright SW Knots in the Complex Ejecta of VY CMa

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