A dissection of 30 Doradus and a discussion of other Magellanic Cloud OB associations

I Present the results of ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope photometry and spectroscopy of the stars in the central region (roughly 7×7 arcmin) of 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Using photometric data for over 2400 stars (complete toV18 mag), and spectroscopic observations of over 150 stars in the region, the best estimate of the initial mass function (IMF) yields a slope of =–1.5±0.2 for masses > 12M, where the Salpeter slope is =–1.35. I compare these results to other measurements of the IMF for OB associations in the Magellanic Clouds.     

Voyager energetic particle observations at interplanetary shocks and upstream of planetary bow shocks: 1977–1990

The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft include instrumentation that makes comprehensive ion (E 28 keV) and electron (E 22 keV) measurements in several energy channels with good temporal, energy, and compositional resolution. Data collected over the past decade (1977–1988), including observations upstream and downstream of four planetary bow shocks (Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus) and numerous interplanetary shocks to 30 AU, are reviewed and analyzed in the context of the Fermi and shock drift acceleration (SDA) models. Principal findings upstream of planetary bow shocks include the simultaneous presence of ions and electrons, detection of tracer ions characteristic of the parent magnetosphere (O, S, O⁺), power-law energy spectra extending to 5 MeV, and large (up to 100:1) anisotropies. Results from interplanetary shocks include observation of acceleration to the highest energies ever seen in a shock ( 22 MeV for protons, 220 MeV for oxygen), the saturation in energy gain to 300 keV at quasi-parallel shocks, the observation of shock-accelerated relativistic electrons, and separation of high-energy (upstream) from low-energy (downstream) populations to within 1 particle gyroradius in a near-perpendicular shock. The overall results suggest that ions and electrons observed upstream of planetary bow shocks have their source inside the parent magnetosphere, with first order Fermi acceleration playing a secondary role at best. Further, that quasi-perpendicular interplanetary shocks accelerate ions and electrons most efficiently to high energies through the shock-drift process. These findings suggest that great care must be exercised in the application of concepts developed for heliosphere shocks to cosmic ray acceleration through shocks at supernova remnants.     

Characteristics and interpretation of the photometric variability of eta carinae and its nebula

A short review is given on the history of the peculiar variable object Car and on a number of relevant references describing and discussing its physical characteristics and behaviour, based on different types of observational techniques. The star is known to be variable since the 17th century. The excessive mass loss to which it was subject during the 19th century is now visible as an ellipsoidal reflection nebula of 15 diameter: the so-called homunculus. The remainder of the paper is spent on different kinds of problems partly based on the results of a decade of photometric monitoring in the VBLUW photometric system of Walraven. Foreground reddening and reddening by dust in the homunculus are determined and amount to E(B - V) _J = 0 50 and < 6, respectively. Scanning of the homunculus revealed an estimate for the photometric characteristics of the central object, which presumably consists of a massive hot star surrounded by a cooler gas envelope. The total luminosity is derived using fluxes of various sources in the wavelength region 0.15 < < 175 n resulting in M _bol = - 12 3 ± 0 2. The total observed flux corrected for foreground extinction corresponds to a star with R 96 R if T _eff 30 000 K. The mass may be near 150 M . The excess luminosity in 1843, when the star was presumably bolometrically at least 2 5 brighter than at present, may have been caused by envelope-energized pulsations when the star's luminosity was close to its Eddington limit. The temperature should then have been 50 000 K. The mass loss rate, during the excess luminosity phase lasting 30 yr, is estimated to amount to M 4 × 10^-3 M yr^-1. At present the mass loss may be M 10^-4M yr^-1. Since the homunculus is mainly built up from material expelled in the 30 yr interval (from 1830 to 1860), its total mass amounts to M _hom 0.15 M . The historical observations of the colours of Car and a comparison with the characteristics of S Dor type stars, suggest that Car was subject to a number of S Dor type phases similar to those of P Cyg (in the 17th century), S Dor and others. A satisfactory explanation is found for the complete historical light curve. The decrease in light after the 1843 maximum by 9 ^m , presumably consists of a fading of the luminosity excess and the S Dor effect by 2 5 and 3^m, respectively, and a 3 5 extinction by circumstellar dust. The small amplitude light variations which Car showed during the last decade, were studied with the aid of the variations of the Balmer jump. They are presumably caused by temperature variations of the central star.Percy and Welch (1983) (Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 95, 491) have observed P Cyg on a number of nights in 1982 and found for the photometric variations a time scale of 30 to 50 days and an amplitude of 0 _. ^m 15.Based partly on observations collected at the ESO, La Silla, Chile.     

Primordial Helium and ΔY/ΔZ from H II Regions and from Fine Structure in the Main Sequence Based on Hipparcos Parallaxes

The primordial helium abundance YP is important for cosmology and the ratio Y/Z of the changes relative to primordial abundances constrains models of stellar evolution. While the most accurate estimates of YP come from emission lines in extragalactic H II regions, they involve an extrapolation to zero metallicity which itself is closely tied up with the slope Y/Z. Recently certain systematic effects have come to light in this exercise which make it useful to have an independent estimate of Y/Z from fine structure in the main sequence of nearby stars. We derive such an estimate from Hipparcos data for stars with Z Z and find values between 2 and 3, which are consistent with stellar models, but still have a large uncertainty.     

Electron coronal density irregularity\overline {n^2 } /(\bar n)^2 from measurements of K-coronal and lyman lines brightnesses

We propose a technique to derive the coronal density irregularity factor , wheren is the electron density. The absolute photometric comparison between the intensity of UV lines and the white-light K-coronal polarized brightness (pB) provides an unique constraint on the inhomogeneity of the corona. The ratio of the measured H I Lyman (Ly-) line intensity to the resonant-scattering dominated H I Lyman (Ly-) intensity can be used to extract the collisonal component of the Ly-. This component yields an estimate of . The quantity is then obtained from white-light K-coronal measurements. The use of lines of the same atomic species minimizes the effects due to outflow velocities (i.e., Doppler dimming), and reduces the errors introduced by the uncertainties in the ionization balance, the atomic parameters, and the solar abundances. The UVCS/SOHO unique capability of performing cotemporal and cospatial measurements of the Ly- and Ly- lines, and ofpB makes this instrument ideal for implementing this technique.     

The population of massive stars in R136 from HST/FOC UV observations

New ultraviolet (1300 A, 3400 A),HST FOC observations have been used to derive the UV color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of R136, with the main scientific goal of studying the upper end of the stellar mass function at ultraviolet wavelengths where the color degeneracy encountered in visual CMDs is less severe. The CMD has been compared to a set of theoretical isochrones, which have been computed using the latest generation of evolutionary models and model atmospheres for early type stars. Wolf-Rayet stars are included. Comparison of theTheoretical andobserved CMD suggests that there are no stars brighter than M₁₃₀–11. We use the observed main sequence turn-off and the known spectroscopic properties of the stellar population to derive constraints on the most probable age of R136. The presence of WNL stars and the lack of red supergiants suggests a most likely age of 3±1 Myr. A theoretical isochrone of 3±1 Myr is consistent with the observed stellar content of R136 if the most massive stars have initial masses around 50 M.Bases on Observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the STScI, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department, ESA     

Ultraviolet observations of the X-ray sources in the ETA garinae Nebula

Car is surrounded by a dense nebula ejected during the last 150 years. The Einstein satellite recently detected intense X-ray emission from Car and its nebula indicating the existence of efficient gas heating processes. Ultraviolet observations with IUE confirmed the presence of hot gas in the condensation S of the nebula and in Car. Possible interpretations of the results are discussed.Based on observations by the International Ultraviolet Explorer made at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

The Edison infrared space observatory

For five years, theEdison program has had the goal of developing new designs for infrared space observatories which will break the cost curve by permitting more capable missions at lower cost. Most notably, this has produced a series of models for purely radiative and radiative/mechanical (hybrid) cooling which do not use cryogens and optical designs which are not constrained by the coolant tanks. Purely radiatively-cooled models achieve equilibrium temperatures as low as about 20 K at a distance of 1 AU from the sun. More advancedEdison designs include mechanical cooling systems attached to the telescope assembly which lower the optical system temperature to 5 K or less. Via these designs, near-cryogenic temperatures appear achievable without the limitations of cryogenic cooling. OneEdison model has been proposed to the European Space Agency as the next generation infrared space observatory and is presently under consideration as a candidate ESA Cornerstone mission. The basic design is also the starting point for elements of future infrared space interferometers.     

Olbers an interplanetary probe to study visible and infrared diffuse backgrounds

The visible extragalactic background (though as yet undetected) is insufficient to explain the abundance of heavy elements in galaxies: either there should be some diffuse extragalactic light in the near infrared (from 1 to 10 m) and/or in the far infrared (100 m) if dust has reprocessed the star light. We propose a new space mission to be dedicated to the search and mapping of primordial stellar light from the visible to the mid-infrared (20 m). In this spectrum range, detectors have reached such a sensitivity that the mission should aim at being (source) photon noise limited, and not any longer background photon noise limited. For that purpose, a small passively cooled telescope with large format CCDs and CIDs could be sent beyond the zodiacal dust cloud (which is absent beyond a solar distance of about 3 AU). In that case, the only remaining foregrounds before reaching the extragalactic background, is due to the Milky Way integrated emission from stars and the diffuse galactic light due to scattering and emission by interstellar dust, which are all unavoidable. Maps of the extragalactic light could be obtained at the arcminute resolution with high signal to noise ratio. This mission is the next logical step after IRAS, COBE and ISO for the study of extragalactic IR backgrounds. It has been proposed as a possible medium-sized mission for the post-horizon 2000 ESA program that could be a piggy back of a planetary mission.     

Absorption of high energy gamma-rays by low energy intergalactic photons

Following our previously proposed technique, we have used the recent -ray observations of Mkr421 to place theoretically significant constraints on the magnitude of the intergalactic infrared radiation field (IIRF). Our 2 upper limits are consistent with normal IR production by stars and dust in galaxies. They rule out exotic mechanisms proposed to produce a larger IIRF. Although they are still subject to revision and are unconfirmed, the data on the spectrum of Mkr421 hint at a possible absorption cutoff which could be produced by an IIRF of the magnitude expected from stellar emission and reprocessing in galaxies. Using models for the low energy intergalactic photon spectrum from microwave to ultraviolet energies, we calculate the opacity of intergalactic space to -rays as a function of energy and redshift. These calculations indicate that the GeV -ray burst recently observed by the CGRO EGRET detector originates at a redshift less than 1.5.     

Cyg X-3 not seen at high-energy gamma rays

The ESA satellite COS-B viewed the Cyg-X region 7 times between November 1975 and March 1982. A search for periodic gamma-ray emission (E > 70 MeV) from Cyg X-3 at the characteristic 4.8 h period did not reveal the source. Combining all observations, the 2 upperlimit (E > 70 MeV) on the flux for the phase interval in which X-ray emission has been detected is 1.0 × 10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1 and for the phase intervals in which ultra-high-energy (E 500 GeV) gamma-ray emission has been reported 1.0 × 10^-7 ph cm^-2 s^-1. This is about one and two orders of magnitude, repectively, below the flux reported earlier by the SAS-2 team. A comparison of the spatial gamma-ray distribution in the Cyg-X region measured by SAS-2 and COS-B with the total-interstellar-gas distribution leads to the conclusion that in both cases, COS-B and SAS-2, no source has been detected at the position of Cyg X-3 in addition to the diffuse gamma-ray emission expected from the total-gas distribution.The Caravane Collaboration for the COS-B satellite: Laboratory for Space Research Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands Istituto di Fisica Cosmica del CNR, Milano, Italy Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Informatica del CNR, Palermo, Italy Max Planck Institut für Physik und Astrophysik, Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching-bei-München, Germany Service d'Astrophysique, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay, France Space Science Department of the European Space Agency, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.     

SOHO: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), together with the Cluster mission, constitutes ESA's Solar Terrestrial Science Programme (STSP), the first Cornerstone of the Agency's long-term programme Space Science — Horizon 2000. STSP, which is being developed in a strong collaborative effort with NASA, will allow comprehensive studies to be made of the both the Sun's interior and its outer atmosphere, the acceleration and propagation of the solar wind and its interaction with the Earth. This paper gives a brief overview of one part of STSP, the SOHO mission.     

Coronal loops and prominences as observed with RATAN-600

This paper presents a short summary of observations of coronal structures at microwaves using an instrument with high spatial resolution and good wavelength coverage. The comparison of the RATAN-600 data with optical observations of coronal loops in the green line and with the Very Large Array maps at 21 cm has shown that the loops represent only a small part of coronal matter, although their role may be of great importance in the physics of the solar corona. Prominence (filament) associated sources, especially peculiar ones, are also reviewed.     

Some results of ionospheric investigations by means of coherent radiowaves emitted by satellites

In this paper we discuss theoretical expressions, determining the difference of Doppler shifts of various coherent radiowave frequencies emitted by a radiator moving in the ionosphere or interplanetary medium. The rotating Doppler effect (Faraday effect) caused by the Doppler shifts ±H of the ordinary and extraordinary waves is also considered. In a three-dimensional inhomogeneous ionosphere, stationary in time (N/t = 0), is determined in the general case, by an equation with three variables. The equation for proper depends only on the local value of the electron concentration N _c around the radiator and on integral values, determining, by means of additional calculations, the angle of refraction or its components, the horizontal gradients of electron concentration N/x and N/y, and in some cases, the integral electron concentration ₀ ^zcN dz. We describe the analysis of the measurements, made with the satellites Cosmos I, II and partially XI, assuming that N/t = N/y = 0, with a two variables equation. The expected errors are considered. The results coincide well for different points (Moscow, The Crimea, Sverdlovsk) and thus agree with the measurements of _H and with height-frequency ionospheric characteristics. The curve giving electron concentration versus height N (z) in the outer ionosphere (above the maximum of F2), shows a new maximum higher than the main maximum of the ionosphere N _MF2 at 120–140 km. At this maximum the value of N (z) is (0.9–0.95) N _MF2. The new data on the large-scale horizontal inhomogeneities of the ionosphere, exceed the previous ones by about a factor 10. By means of the irregular variations of the spectrum W() of the inhomogenous formation is determined. Three unknown constant maxima with values 16 to 18 km, 28 to 32 km and 100 to 120 km are found. The spectrum W () mainly characterizes the local properties of the ionosphere along the orbit of the satellite.     

The infrared space observatory (ISO)

The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), a fully approved and funded project of the European Space Agency (ESA), is an astronomical satellite, which will operate at wavelengths from 2.5–240 m. ISO will provide astronomers with a unique facility of unprecedented sensitivity for a detailed exploration of the universe ranging from objects in the solar system right out to distant extragalactic sources. The satellite essentially consists of a large cryostat containing at launch over 2000 litres of superfluid helium to maintain the Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, the scientific instruments and the optical baffles at temperatures between 2 K and 8 K. The telescope has a 60-cm diameter primary mirror and is diffraction-limited at a wavelength of 5 m. A pointing accuracy of a few arc seconds is provided by a three-axis-stabilisation system consisting of reaction wheels, gyros and optical sensors. ISO's instrument complement consists of four instruments, namely: an imaging photo-polarimeter (2.5–240 m), a camera (2.5–17 m), a short wavelength spectrometer (3–45 m) and a long wavelength spectrometer (43–196 m). These instruments are being built by international consortia of scientific institutes and have been delivered to ESA for in-orbit operations. ISO will be launched in September 1995 by an Ariane 4 into an elliptical orbit (apogee 70000 km and perigee 1000 km) and will be operational for at least 18 months. In keeping with ISO's role as an observatory, the majority of its observing time is being made available to the general astronomical community via a Call for Observing Proposals.     

Non-BBN Constraints on the Key Cosmological Parameters

Since the baryon-to-photon ratio 10 is in some doubt at present, we ignore the constraints on 10 from big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and fit the three key cosmological parameters (h, M, 10) to four other observational constraints: Hubble parameter (ho), age of the universe (to), cluster gas (baryon) fraction (fo fGh3/2), and effective shape parameter (o). We consider open and flat CDM models and flat CDM models, testing goodness of fit and drawing confidence regions by the 2 method. CDM models with M = 1 (SCDM models) are accepted only because we allow a large error on ho, permitting h < 0.5. Open CDM models are accepted only for _M 0.4. CDM models give similar results. In all of these models, large 10 ( 6) is favored strongly over small 10 ( 2), supporting reports of low deuterium abundances on some QSO lines of sight, and suggesting that observational determinations of primordial 4He may be contaminated by systematic errors. Only if we drop the crucial o constraint are much lower values of M and 10 permitted.     

The scientific payload of the space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)

The space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a joint venture of ESA and NASA within the frame of the Solar Terrestrial Science Programme (STSP), the first Cornerstone of ESA's long-term programme Space Science — Horizon 2000. The principal scientific objectives of the SOHO mission are: a) a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of the solar interior using techniques of helioseismology, and b) a better insight into the physical processes that form and heat the Sun's corona, maintain it and give rise to its acceleration into the solar wind. To achieve these goals, SOHO carries a payload consisting of 12 sets of complementary instruments which are briefly described here.     

Recent results on the parameters of the interstellar helium from the ULYSSES/GAS experiment

Velocity and direction of the flow of the interstellar helium and its temperature and density have been determined from the measurements of the ULYSSES/GAS experiment for two different epochs: during the in-ecliptic path of ULYSSES, representing solar maximum conditions, and during the south to the north pole transition (11/94-6/95), close to the solar minimum conditions. Within the improved error bars the values are consistent with results published earlier.The determination of the density n of the interstellar helium at the heliospheric boundary from observations in the inner solar system requires knowledge about the loss processes experienced by the particles on their way to the observer. The simultaneous observation of the helium particles arriving on direct and indirect orbits at the observer provides a tool to directly determine the effects of the loss processes assumed to be predominantly photoionization and — for particles travelling close to the Sun — electron impact ionization by high-energy solar wind electrons.Such observations were obtained with the ULYSSES/GAS instrument in February 1995, before the spaceprobe passed its perihelion. From these measurements values for the loss rates and the interstellar density could be derived. Assuming photoionization to be the only loss process reasonable fits to the observations were obtained for an ionization rate = 1.1 · 10^–7 s^–1 and a density n 1.7 · 10^–2 cm^–3. Including, in addition, electron impact ionization, a photoionization = 0.6 · 10^–7 s^–1 was sufficient to fit both observations, resulting in a density n 1.4 · 10^–2 cm^–3.On leave from Space Research Centre, Warsaw, Poland.     

Presupernova models and supernovae

Present status of the theories for presupernova evolution and triggering mechanisms of supernova explosions are summarized and discussed from the standpoint of the theory of stellar structure and evolution. It is not intended to collect every detail of numerical results thus far obtained, but to extract physically clear-cut understanding from complexities of the numerical stellar models. For this purpose the evolution of stellar cores is discussed in a generalized fashion. The following types of the supernova explosions are discussed. The carbon deflagration supernova of intermediate mass star which results in the total disruption of the star. Massive star evolves into a supernova triggered by photo-dissociation of iron nuclei which results in a formation of a neutron star or a black hole depending on its mass. These two are typical types of the sueprnovae. Between them there remains a range of mass for which collapse of the stellar core is triggered by electron captures, which has been recently shown to leave a neutron star despite oxygen deflagration competing with the electron captures. Also discussed are combustion and detonation of helium or carbon which take place in accreting white dwarfs, and the collapse which is triggered by electron-pair creation in very massive stars.Appendix: Notations A mass number of atomic nucleus - B _v(a, b) incomplete beta function - c _p specific heat at constant pressure - c _p sound velocity - c(sub) center of the star - E _e mean energy of an electron captured by nucleus - E _n nuclear energy release from unit mass of the nuclear fuel specified by n - E _thr threshold energy (9.3) - E _thr,0 energy difference between the ground states of daughter nucleus and parent nucleus (9.1) - E energy of gamma ray emitted from daughter nucleus (9.1) - E _v mean energy of a neutrino emitted by electron capture (9.1) - f flatness parameter (2.17) - g local gravitational acceleration (2.16) - H atomic mass unit - H _p scale height of pressure (2.22) - H (sub) hydrogen-burning shell - k Boltzmann constant - l mixing length of convection - L _cr(M _r ) local Eddington's critical luminosity (4.3) - L _n integrated nuclear energy generation rate by nuclear fuel specified by n - L _v neutrino luminosity - L _{v, cr}(M _r ) local Eddington's critical neutrino luminosity (11.2) - M (current) mass of a star - m _M core mass contained interior to the carbon-burning shell - M _Ch Chandrasekhar's limiting mass (9.6) - M _H core mass contained interior to the hydrogen-burning shell - M _He core mass contained interior to the helium-burning shell - M _ms mass of a star at its zero-age min-sequence - M _O core mass contained interior to the oxygen-burning shell - M _r mass contained interior to a shell at r - M _Si core mass contained interior to the silicon-burning shell - M _WD mass of white dwarf (7.1) - M ₀ normalization factor to the non-dimensional mass (3.3) - M ₁ core mass (3.6) - N polytropic index between pressure and density (2.3) - n polytropic index between pressure and temperature (10.1) - N _A Avogadro number - N _ad adiabatic polytropic index - N _e number of electrons in unit mass of matter - NSE nuclear statistical equilibrium - P pressure - ph (sub) photosphere - Q _e mass fraction of the envelope exterior of the shell e (2.14) - R stellar radius - r radial distance of a shell - r ₀ normalization factor to the non-dimensional radius (3.2) - s specific entropy - S _i specific entropy of ions - T temperature - U homology invariant defined by (2.1) - u _gas specific internal energy of gas - u _rad energy of the radiation field per volume in which unit mass of gas is contained (6.4) - V homology invariant defined by (2.2) - _def velocity of deflagration front (6.10) - X concentration by weight of hydrogen - Y concentration by weight of helium - Y _e mole number of electrons in one gram of matter (9.7) - Y _v mole number of neutrinos in one gram of matter - Z concentration by weight of the elements other than hydrogen and helium - z shock strength (6.6) - 1 (sub) usually denotes the core edge (2.13) - ratio of the mixing length to the scale height of pressure (l/H _p ) - ratio of gas pressure to the total pressure - ratio of the specific heats - gD locus of singularity in U-V plane (2.5) - M(H _p ) mass contained within unit scale height of pressure (4.4) - _ec energy rate by electron captures (9.5) - _n nuclear energy generation rate by the nuclear fuel specified by n - _v neutrino loss rate - L _v ^(D) neutrino loss rate excluding the neutrinos from the electron captures (9.4) - non-dimensional density (3.1) - P/, not the non-dimensional temperature (2.7) - _W Weinberg's angle (5.8) - opacity - _v neutrino opacity (11.2) - describes the effect of electron degeneracy in equation of state (2.19) - _ec rate of electron capture - mean molecular weight - _e mean molecular weight of electrons - _e chemical potential of an electron excluding the rest mass (8.1) - _i mean molecular weight of ions - non-dimensional radius (3.1) - non-dimensional pressure (3.1) - matter density - _cr ^GR critical density above which the general relativistic instability sets in - _cr critical density for reimplosion of the core by beta processes (Section 5) - _ign density at the ignition - _nse density above which the deflagrated matter results in NSE composition - _e non-dimensional entropy of electron-per one electron in units of k(9.2) - _ff timescale of free fall (6.2) - _h (H _p ) timescale of heat transport over unit scale height of pressure (4.4) - _n nuclear timescale for a change in temperature (6.1) - non-dimensional mass (3.1) - _e chemical potential of an electron in units of kT (8.1)     

Hubble Space Telescope spectroscopy of massive hot stars in the Magellanic Clouds and M31

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) high signal to noise spectrograms were obtained for 15 OB stars in the Magellanic Clouds^***, three of which are of spectral type O3. The data cover the spectral region from 1150 A – 2300 A with a resolution of /1 A. One O8.5 supergiant, OB78#231, in M31is also included in this work. These data are a substantial improvement on previous high resolution IUE observations in the Magellanic Clouds (Walborn et al. 1985 and references therein) because of the smaller aperture and the much better signal to noise ratio, while no high resolution UV spectra of O stars in M31 have been obtained before. In this paper we discuss various morphological aspects of the spectra, concerning metallicity and the stellar winds, compared to galactic analogues.