Related papers: A near-infrared survey for Galactic Wolf-Rayet sta…
We present follow-up spectroscopy of emission line candidates detected on near-infrared narrow band images in the inner Galaxy (Homeier et al. 2003). The filters are optimized for the detection of Wolf-Rayet stars and other objects which…
Most of the Milky Way's evolved massive stellar population is hidden from view. We can attempt to remedy this situation with near-infrared observations, and in this paper we present our method for detecting Wolf-Rayet stars in highly…
The discovery of new Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in our Galaxy via large-scale narrowband optical surveys has been severely limited by dust extinction. Recent improvements in infrared technology have made narrowband-broadband imaging surveys…
A new method of image subtraction is applied to images from a J, K, and narrow-band imaging survey of 300 square degrees of the plane of the Galaxy, searching for new Wolf-Rayet stars. Our survey spans 150 degrees in Galactic longitude and…
We are continuing a J, K and narrow-band imaging survey of 300 square degrees of the plane of the Galaxy, searching for new Wolf-Rayet stars. Our survey spans 150 degrees in Galactic longitude and reaches 1 degree above and below the…
We report the discovery of fifteen previously unknown Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars found as part of an infrared broad-band study of candidate WR stars in the Galaxy. We have derived an empirically-based selection algorithm which has selected ~5000…
Wolf-Rayet stars (WRs) are evolved massive stars in the brief stage before they undergo core collapse. Not only are they rare, but they also can be particularly difficult to find due to the high extinction in the Galactic plane. This paper…
We present an NTT/SOFI spectroscopic survey of infrared selected Wolf-Rayet candidates in the Scutum-Crux spiral arm (298 < l < 340, |b| < 0.5). We obtained near-IR spectra of 127 candidates, revealing 17 Wolf-Rayet stars - a ~13% success…
We report new results from our effort to identify obscured Wolf-Rayet stars in the Galaxy. Candidates were selected by their near-infrared (2MASS) and mid-infrared (Spitzer/GLIMPSE) color excesses, which are consistent with free-free…
We have undertaken a near-infrared spectral survey of stars associated with compact mid-IR shells recently revealed by the MIPSGAL (24 micron) and GLIMPSE (8 micron) Spitzer surveys, whose morphologies are typical of circumstellar shells…
We report the results of a survey of radio continuum emission of Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars north of declination -46 degrees. The observations were obtained at 8.46 GHz (3.6cm) using the Very Large Array (VLA), with an angular resolution of…
We have spectroscopically identified 60 Galactic Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, including 38 nitrogen types (WN) and 22 carbon types (WC). Using photometry from the Spitzer/GLIMPSE and 2MASS databases, the WRs were selected via a method we have…
Determining the Galactic distribution and numbers of massive stars, such as Wolf-Rayet stars (WRs), is hampered by intervening Galactic or local circumstellar dust obscuration. In order to probe such regions of the Galaxy we can use…
We report the detection of a number of emission lines in the 1.0--2.4~$\mu$m spectra of four of the five bright infrared dust-embedded stars at the center of the Galactic center's Quintuplet Cluster. Spectroscopy of the central stars of…
The total population of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the Galaxy is predicted by models to be as many as $\sim$6000 stars, and yet the number of catalogued WR stars as a result of optical surveys was far lower than this ($\sim$200) at the turn…
We construct revised near-infrared absolute magnitude calibrations for 126 Galactic Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars at known distances, based in part upon recent large scale spectroscopic surveys. Application to 246 WR stars located in the field,…
We present refined color-color selection criteria for identifying Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars using available mid infrared (MIR) photometry from WISE in combination with near infrared (NIR) photometry from 2MASS. Using a sample of spectrally…
We summarize past and current surveys for Wolf-Rayet stars among the Local Group galaxies, emphasizing both the how and the why. Such studies are invaluable for helping us learn about massive star evolution, and for providing sensitive…
Context: The ESO Public Survey "VISTA Variables in the V\'ia L\'actea" (VVV) provides deep multi-epoch infrared observations for an unprecedented 562 sq. degrees of the Galactic bulge, and adjacent regions of the disk. In this survey nearly…
The numbers and types of evolved massive stars found in nearby galaxies provide an exacting test of stellar evolution models. Because of their proximity and rich massive star populations, the Magellanic Clouds have long served as the…