HD 179821 (V1427 Aql, IRAS 19114+0002) -- A Massive Post-Red Supergiant Star?

TL;DR

This study analyzes the elemental abundances and spectral characteristics of HD 179821, a luminous, metal-rich star with peculiar features, suggesting it is a massive star evolving towards a supernova.

Contribution

It provides a detailed high-resolution spectral analysis of HD 179821, revealing its chemical composition, atmospheric parameters, and evolutionary status, which was not previously characterized in such detail.

Findings

HD 179821 has high metallicity ([Fe/H]=0.4) and unusual composition.

It shows no s-process enrichment and has overabundant europium.

Spectral line variability indicates complex atmospheric dynamics.

Abstract

We have derived elemental abundances of a remarkable star, HD 179821, with unusual composition (e.g. [Na/Fe]=1.0$\pm$0.2 dex) and extra-ordinary spectral characteristics. Its metallicity at [Fe/H]=0.4 dex places it among the most metal-rich stars yet analyzed. The abundance analysis of this luminous star is based on high resolution and high quality (S/N$\approx$120--420) optical echelle spectra from McDonald Observatory and Special Astronomy Observatory. The data includes five years of observations over twenty-one epochs. Standard 1D {\sc LTE} analysis provides a fresh determination of the atmospheric parameters over all epochs: \Teff = 7350$\pm$200 \kelvin, \logg = +0.6$\pm$0.3, and a microturbulent velocity $\xi =$ 6.6$\pm$1.6 km s$^{\rm -1}$ and [Fe/H] = 0.4$\pm$0.2, and a carbon abundance [C/Fe]= $-$0.19$\pm$0.30. We find oxygen abundance [O/Fe]= $-$0.25$\pm$0.28 and an enhancement of 0.9 dex in N. A supersonic macroturbulent velocity of 22.0 $\pm$ 2.0 km s$^{\rm -1}$ is determined from both strong and weak Fe\,{\sc i} and Fe\,{\sc ii} lines. Elemental abundances are obtained for 22 elements. HD 179821 is not enriched in s-process products. Eu is overabundant relative to the anticipated [X/Fe] $\approx$ 0.0. Some peculiarities of its optical spectrum (e.g. variability in the spectral line shapes) is noticed. This includes the line profile variations for H$\alpha$ line. Based on its estimated luminosity, effective temperature and surface gravity, HD 179821 is a massive star evolving to become a red supergiant and finally a Type II supernova.