Melnick 34

Melnick 34
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Dorado
Right ascension 5h 38m 44.26s[1]
Declination −69° 06′ 05.88″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 13.09[1]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Wolf–Rayet star
Spectral type WN5h + WN5h[2]
B−V color index +0.25[1]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)287±5[2] km/s
Distance163,000 ly
(49,970[3] pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)-7.42[2]
Orbit[2]
Period (P)154.55±0.05 d
Eccentricity (e)0.68±0.02
Inclination (i)~50°
Periastron epoch (T)57671.2±0.9 JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)		20.9±3.8°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		130±7 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)		141±6 km/s
Details
A
Mass148[4] M☉
Radius19.3±2.8[2] R☉
Luminosity2,042,000[4] L☉
Temperature53,000±1,200[2] K
Age0.5±0.3[2] Myr
B
Mass135[4] M☉
Radius18.2±2.7[2] R☉
Luminosity1,585,000[4] L☉
Temperature53,000±1,200[2] K
Age0.6±0.3[2] Myr
Other designations
BAT99-116,[5] Melnick 34, 2MASS J05384424-6906058, Brey 84
Database references
SIMBADdata

Melnick 34 (abbreviated to Mk34), also called BAT99-116, is a binary Wolf–Rayet star near R136 in the 30 Doradus complex (also known as the Tarantula Nebula) in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Both components are amongst the most massive and most luminous stars known, and the system is the most massive known binary system.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference tehrani was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nature was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference shenar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Breysacher, J.; Azzopardi, M.; Testor, G. (1999). "The fourth catalogue of Population I Wolf-Rayet stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 137 (1): 117–145. Bibcode:1999A&AS..137..117B. doi:10.1051/aas:1999240.