The variable WN8 star WR 40 and its ring nebula RCW 58

GT WR 40 (HD 96548) is a Wolf Rayet star of spectral type WN8 located ratherfar away from the Galactic plane. Its spectrum is variable (Moffat & Isserstedt1980) and particularly rich in emission lines and P Cygni profiles. The UV linesexhibit changes that are interpreted by Smith et al. (1985) as signs of ashocked stellar wind flow. The star is surrounded by the axisymmetric ringnebula RCW 58 which is classified as containing stellar ejecta, an almost uniquefeature for such a latetype WN star.Ring nebulae offer also the opportunity tolook for the Xray signature of the interaction of the high speed ejectedmaterial with the interstellar matter. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]