Spectral Classification and Photometry of Southern B Stars

Abstract

240 B stars drawn from the Cape Zone Catalogue or faint stars, from the Tonantzintla lists of OB stars, from Selected Areas 172, 193, 194 and from the Henry Draper Catalogue have been observed for spectral classification. Of these, 184 have been observed photoelectrically in three colours at the Cape or Radcliffe Observatories. Corrected distance moduli (based on MK classes and B–V photometry) are tabulated. Stars with computed distances greater than 3 kpc are plotted on the galactic plane (together with northern stars from Hiltner's list). A considerable concentration of distant supergiants is found in longitudes ( l^II ) 328 to 336°. 46 Tonantzintla OB stars are nearly all classified as B2 or earlier, but only two supergiants are found among them.