Extraordinarily Hot X - Ray Emission from the O 9 Emission Line Star Hd 119682

We present new optical and X-ray observations to show that the X-ray source 1WGA J1346.5−6255 previously associated with the SNR G309.2-0.6 can be unequivocally identified with the emission line star HD 119682 located in the foreground open cluster NGC 5281. Images from Chandra in the X-ray band as well as from Magellan in the narrow optical Hα band show a coincidence of the source positions within 0.5. The X-ray source appears extremely hot for an OB-star identified as of O9.7e type. XMM-Newton spectra show plasma temperatures of 1 keV and > 8 keV with an X-ray luminosity of 6.2±0.1× 10 erg s . The optical and X-ray properties are very reminiscent of the prototype emission line star γ Cas. We discuss the ramifications of this similarity with respect to very early type emission line stars as a new class of hard X-ray sources. Subject headings: stars:emission-line, Be — stars:individual(HD 119682) — X-rays:stars