Asymmetric Ejecta of Cool Supergiants and Hypergiants in the Massive Cluster Westerlund 1

TL;DR

This study uses radio observations to reveal asymmetric, cometary-shaped nebulae around evolved massive stars in Westerlund 1, indicating influence from the cluster environment on stellar ejecta.

Contribution

First detection of cometary nebulae around yellow hypergiants and red supergiants in Westerlund 1, showing environmental shaping of stellar ejecta.

Findings

Most nebulae are spatially resolved and show cometary morphology.

Nebulae are directed away from the cluster core, suggesting influence of cluster wind.

Ejecta morphology indicates environmental shaping by Westerlund 1.

Abstract

We report new 5.5 GHz radio observations of the massive star cluster Westerlund 1, taken by the Australia Telescope Compact Array, detecting nine of the ten yellow hypergiants (YHGs) and red supergiants (RSGs) within the cluster. Eight of nine sources are spatially resolved. The nebulae associated with the YHGs Wd1-4a, -12a and -265 demonstrate a cometary morphology - the first time this phenomenon has been observed for such stars. This structure is also echoed in the ejecta of the RSGs Wd1-20 and -26; in each case the cometary tails are directed away from the cluster core. The nebular emission around the RSG Wd1-237 is less collimated than these systems but once again appears more prominent in the hemisphere facing the cluster. Considered as a whole, the nebular morphologies provide compelling evidence for sculpting via a physical agent associated with Westerlund 1, such as a cluster wind.