Discovery of Two Wolf-Rayet Stars Near the Galactic Center
Session 22 -- Galactic Structure; Galactic Center
Display presentation, Monday, 9, 1995, 9:20am - 6:30pm

## [22.11] Discovery of Two Wolf-Rayet Stars Near the Galactic Center

D.F.Figer, I.S.McLean, M.Morris (UCLA)

As part of a 1800 $pc^2$ survey of the Galactic Center region in the lines of HeI ($2.058 \mu m$), Br-$\gamma$ ($2.166 \mu m$), and the HeII/CIV complex ($3.09 \mu m$), we have found at least two new Wolf-Rayet stars, including the first WC-type star to be found near the Galactic Center. Spectra taken in the H (R $\approx$ 525) and K (R $\approx$ 550) windows show broad emission lines. These two stars, along with a third emission-line star showing a spectrum similar to an LBV, are within a projected distance of 1.7 pc of the Quintuplet cluster (AFGL2004) assuming a distance of 8.5 kpc and are probably members of this cluster due to their predicted ages. We discuss the relationship between the stars in the Quintuplet cluster and the nearby ionized gas in the Pistol'' (G0.15-0.05) and the Sickle'' (G0.18-0.04). We also discuss the implications for star-formation near the Galactic Center.