What spectroscopic signature classifies a central star as potentially a Wolf-Rayet star nucleus?
Answer
Broad emission lines of carbon or nitrogen superimposed on a blue continuum
The appearance of very broad emission lines of carbon or nitrogen, situated on top of a blue continuum when analyzing the light spectrum, immediately classifies the central star as a hot object, possibly a Wolf-Rayet star nucleus.
Related Questions
What are the two elements dominating the bulk material composition of nebulae?In the context of astronomy concerning nebulae composition, what term describes any element heavier than helium?Which elements are built up in the interiors of aging, massive stars through standard nuclear fusion before exhaustion?Which group of elements is ejected violently into space specifically during supernova explosions?What process is primarily responsible for transforming a simple hydrogen/helium cloud into a chemically diverse environment?What spectroscopic signature classifies a central star as potentially a Wolf-Rayet star nucleus?Which elements were forged in the Big Bang and constitute the overwhelming majority of initial nebular bulk material?What is the suggested origin of pockets within nebulae that are strongly enriched in heavy elements but deficient in hydrogen?Which chemical composition difference is noted for some planetary nebulae compared to our Sun's composition?What diagnostic tool allows astronomers to map out chemical evolution across the galaxy by comparing nebulae?How does the heavy-element content in extremely old nebulae, like those in globular clusters, typically compare to newer nebulae?