Context. Despite the important advances in space asteroseismology during the last decade, the early phases of evolution of stars with masses above ∼15 M (including the O stars and their evolved descendants, the B supergiants) have been only vaguely explored up to now. This is due to the lack of adequate observations for a proper characterization of the complex spectroscopic and photometric variability occurring in these stars. Aims. Our goal is to detect, analyze and interpret variability in the early-B type supergiant HD 2905 (κ Cas, B1 Ia) using long-term, ground based, high resolution spectroscopy. Methods. We gather a total of 1141 high-resolution spectra covering some 2900 days with three different high-performance spectrographs attached to 1 -2.6m telescopes at the Canary Islands observatories. We complement these observations with the Hipparcos light curve, which includes 160 data points obtained during a time span of ∼1200 days. We investigate spectroscopic variability of up to 12 diagnostic lines by using the zero and first moments of the line profiles. We perform a frequency analysis of both the spectroscopic and photometric dataset using Scargle periodograms. We obtain single snapshot and time-dependent information about the stellar parameters and abundances by means of the fastwind stellar atmosphere code. Results. HD 2905 is a spectroscopic variable with peak-to-peak amplitudes in the zero and first moments of the photospheric lines of up to 15% and 30 km s −1 , respectively. The amplitude of the line-profile variability is correlated with the line formation depth in the photosphere and wind. All investigated lines present complex temporal behavior indicative of multi-periodic variability with timescales of a few days to several weeks. No short-period (hourly) variations are detected. The Scargle periodograms of the Hipparcos light curve and the first moment of purely photospheric lines reveal a low-frequency amplitude excess and a clear dominant frequency at ∼0.37 d −1 . In the spectroscopy, several additional frequencies are present in the range 0.1 -0.4 d −1 . These may be associated with heat-driven gravity modes, convectively-driven gravity waves, or sub-surface convective motions. Additional frequencies are detected below 0.1 d −1 . In the particular case of Hα, these are produced by rotational modulation of a non-spherically symmetric stellar wind. Conclusions. Combined long-term uninterrupted space photometry with high-precision spectroscopy is the best strategy to unravel the complex low-frequency photospheric and wind variability of B supergiants. 3D simulations of waves and of convective motions in the sub-surface layers can shed light on a unique interpretation of the variability.

Context. Massive stars play an important role in the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Universe. The first metal-poor stars may have started the reionization of the Universe. To understand these early epochs it is necessary to know the behavior and the physical properties of massive stars in very metal-poor environments. We focus on the massive stellar content of the metal-poor irregular galaxy Sextans A. Aims. Our aim is to find and classify OB stars in Sextans A, so as to later determine accurate stellar parameters of these blue massive stars in this low-metallicity region (Z ∼ 0.1 Z ). Methods. Using UBV photometry, the reddening-free index Q and GALEX imaging, we built a list of blue massive star candidates in Sextans A. We obtained low-resolution (R ∼ 1000) GTC-OSIRIS spectra for a fraction of them and carried out spectral classification. For the confirmed O-stars, we derived preliminary stellar parameters. Results. The target selection criteria and observations were successful and have produced the first spectroscopic atlas of OB-type stars in Sextans A. From the whole sample of 18 observed stars, 12 were classified as early OB-types, including 5 O-stars. The radial velocities of all target stars are in agreement with their Sextans A membership, although three of them show significant deviations. We determined the stellar parameters of the O-type stars using the stellar atmosphere code FASTWIND and revisited the sub-SMC temperature scale. Two of the O-stars are consistent with relatively strong winds and enhanced helium abundances, although results are not conclusive. We discuss the position of the OB stars in the HRD. Initial stellar masses run from slightly below 20 up to 40 solar masses. Conclusions. The target selection method worked well for Sextans A. The stellar temperatures are consistent with findings in other galaxies. Some of the targets deserve follow-up spectroscopy because of indications of a runaway nature, an enhanced helium abundance, or a relatively strong wind. We observe a correlation between HI and OB associations similar to the irregular galaxy IC 1613, confirming the previous result that the most recent star formation of Sextans A is currently ongoing near the rim of the H i cavity.

With both nebular-and stellar-derived abundances of 1/10 Z ⊙ and low foreground extinction, Sextans A is a prime candidate to replace the Small Magellanic Cloud as reservoir of metal-poor massive stars and reference to study the metal-poor Universe. We report the discovery of two early-O type stars in Sextans A, the earliest O-stars with metallicity <1/7 Z ⊙ known to date, and two additional O9 stars. Colour-excess estimates towards individual targets, enabled by spectral typing, manifest that internal reddening is neither uniform nor negligible. The four targets define a new region of star formation far from the opticallybrightest centre of the galaxy and from its conspicuous H ii shells, but not devoid of neutral hydrogen. In fact, we detect a spatial correlation between OB-stars and H i in Sextans A and other dIrr's that leads us to propose that the neutral phase may be fundamental to star formation in low-density environments. According to the existing evidence at least two of the targets formed in isolation, thus suggestive of an stochastic sampling of the initial mass function that would enable low-mass galaxies like Sextans A to form very massive stars. The discovery of these four stars provide spatially-resolved, spectroscopic confirmation of recent findings suggesting that dwarf galaxies can sustain star formation despite the low density of the gas phase.