Forensic Astronomy: The Curious Case of Wr20a

[Weltevreden SA (Dana)]

Hi mystery buffs out there. Ever since Simmo and Paddy introduced me to the massive young cluster Westerlund 2 in Carina, I've been going off the deep end with it. See what you guys have done! I think astronomy qualifies as an infectious please.

Wd 2 has among its marvels the most massive binary yet known: Wr20a, weighing in at 82 and 83 solar masses each. They are Wolf-Rayets spewing off massive amounts of hot gas. Since they orbit very close to each other at 3.6 days, the interface between them is one of most hostile environments known to astronomy—a science which already lacks little when it comes to meeting up with hostile environments. Moreover, they will go supernova nearly at the same time about a million years from now, and both will become black holes.

What will happen in this part of the sky in the next million years? Join Inspector Dana Clouseau as he solves The Curious Case of Wr20a.

Enjoy!

=Dana in SA

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Thanks heaps for this Dana, a great article to read - Wd2 has just been bumped up to the top of my imaging/observing list with the new Moon.

Paul

[astroron (Ron)]

Great Read Dana, I enjoyed i6t immensely.
I will print off your charts and give this cluster a bit more time in my next observation of it.
I will chase up WR20a at high mag, out of interest after reading this article.
Cheers