Abstract
A REMARKABLE change in the infrared polarisation of VY Canis Majoris has been observed in 1974 and 1975. This star was found, in 1970, to have a large and peculiar polarisation1. Further observations carried out in 1971 and 1972 confirm the existence of a polarisation peak at 1.6 µm and a rapid rotation of the position angle of polarisation from visible to infrared wavelengths2–5 (see Fig. 1). The polarisation declines rapidly with wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared, having a dip near 1 µm, and rising further in the infrared, with peak at λ=1.6 µm. Corresponding to the rapid decrease in the polarisation, the position angle rotates by about 90°. Our latest observations show that the hump at 1.6 µm has disappeared.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hashimoto, J., Maihara, T., Okuda, H., and Sato, S., Publs astr. Soc. Japan, 22, 335 (1970).
Maihara, T., Okuda, H., and Sato, S., Mem. Soc. Roy. Sci. Liege, 6 e ser., Tom III, 417 (1972).
Forbes, F. F., Astrophys. J. Lett., 165, L83 (1971).
Dyck, H. M., Forbes, F. F., and Shawl, S. J., Astr. J., 76, 901 (1971).
Serkowski, K., Astrophys. J. Lett., 179, L101 (1973).
Okuda, H., Workshop on Interstellar Grains, Gregynog (1975).
Serkowski, J., Astrophys. J. Lett., 158, L107 (1969).
Herbig, G. H., Astrophys. J., 172, 375 (1972).
Zellner, B. H., and Serkowski, K., Publs astr. Soc. Pacif., 84, 619 (1972).
Gehrels, T., Astrophys. J. Lett., 173, L23 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MAIHARA, T., NOGUCHI, K., OISHI, M. et al. Variations of the infrared polarisation of VY Canis Majoris. Nature 259, 465–466 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259465a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/259465a0
This article is cited by
-
JHK photometry for some stellar maser sources
Astrophysics and Space Science (1984)
