Metallicities of the β Cephei stars from low-resolution ultraviolet spectra

Abstract

We derive basic stellar parameters (angular diameters, effective temperatures, metallicities) and interstellar reddening for all β Cephei stars observed during the IUE satellite mission, including those belonging to three open clusters. The parameters are derived by means of an algorithmic procedure of fitting theoretical flux distributions to the low-resolution IUE spectra and ground-based spectrophotometric observations. Since the metallicity has a special importance for pulsating B-type stars, we focus our attention in particular on this parameter. © ESO 2005.