Massive main-sequence star HD 188101 has unusual amounts of silicon, titanium, and strontium

Star system: HD 188101 | Distance from the Sun: 1394 light years

Researchers have closely examined HD 188101, a little-studied star with a weak magnetic field, using both spectroscopic and photometric observations. This star has properties typical of main-sequence B9 stars, including its effective temperature and surface gravity. The study focused on measuring the amounts of several elements in the star's atmosphere and how these compare to the Sun.

The team found that HD 188101 has higher than solar amounts of silicon, titanium, and strontium, while its helium content is slightly lower but still within the expected range. They also observed that the star's light changes over time, a phenomenon known as photometric variability, and detected changes in the absorption lines of several elements. These findings suggest that HD 188101 is part of a group of stars known for unusual chemical compositions, specifically He-weak SiTiSr stars.

The research also revealed that different lines of helium and magnesium show varying abundances at the same observation phase, highlighting the complexity of the star's atmosphere. This work adds valuable information about the diversity of chemical properties in B-type stars.

Key findings
- HD 188101 is a main-sequence B9 star with a weak magnetic field.
- The star shows overabundances of silicon, titanium, and strontium compared to the Sun.
- HD 188101 belongs to the group of chemically peculiar He-weak SiTiSr stars.

Scientific study

HD 188101: A Spotted B Star with Abundance Anomalies (external link)