SMC Probable Member Stars Catalog with Spectral Classifications

A 1975 objective prism survey identified 506 probable high-luminosity stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud, with 193 confirmed by other authors. The catalog, updated in 1979 and maintained by NASA HEASARC, includes positions, MK spectral types, V magnitudes, and (B-V) and (U-B) color indices for these stars. It also incorporates four Wolf-Rayet stars detected in 1979 and references a later 1982 catalog.

Use Cases

• Studying high-luminosity stellar populations based on the MK spectral classifications and magnitude data.
• Analyzing color-magnitude relationships for stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud based on the (B-V) and (U-B) color indices.
• Cross-referencing and confirming stellar memberships based on the catalog's remarks indicating previous identifications.
• Investigating the distribution of Wolf-Rayet stars in the SMC based on the four included stars.

Strengths

• Catalog is based on a defined survey with a limiting absolute magnitude of about -4.5.
• Includes 506 candidate stars from the 1975 paper, with 193 having prior confirmation.
• Provides multiple photometric observations per star, including V magnitude and color indices.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the 1970s survey methods and follow-ups.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA HEASARC).

Collection Method

Objective prism survey with interference filters, supplemented by later photometric observations.

Time Range

Based on surveys and papers from 1975 and 1979.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:49:56.728298; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Small Magellanic Cloud.