Radio and Optical Observations of the R Aquarii Jet

Authors

R. J. Sopka, Catonsville Community College
G. Herbig, UNIV MARYLAND
Menas Kafatos, Chapman UniversityFollow
A. G. Michalitsianos, NASA, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1982

Abstract

VLA observations at 6 cm and Lick Observatory optical plates of R Aquarii indicate the existence of a jetlike feature extending 7" -10" from the central star. A wide field map at 6 cm shows an unresolved compact radio source which lies close to the axis defined by the jet at a distance of ~ 3' from R Aqr. Episodic mass transfer in this symbiotic variable could explain the erratic outbursts that R Aqr is known to undergo. Formation of an accretion disk and the accompanying radio-optical jet may characterize the observed outbursts in this system.

Comments

This article was originally published in Astrophysical Journal, volume 258, in 1982. DOI: 10.1086/183825

Recommended Citation

Sopka, R.J., Herbig, G., Kafatos, M., Michalitsianos, A.G. (1982) Radio and Optical Observations of the R Aquarii Jet, The Astrophysical Journal, 258: L35-L39. doi: 10.1086/183825

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

IOP Publishing