HD 50844 observed by CoRoT

All the cross-checks confirmed this new result. The initial guess that delta Sct stars have a very rich frequency content is confirmed. The spectroscopic mode identification gives theoretical support since very high-degree modes (up to ell=14) are identified.

We also prove that cancellation effects are not sufficient in removing the flux variations associated to these modes at the noise level of the CoRoT measurements. The ground-based observations indicate that HD 50844 is an evolved star that is slightly underabundant in heavy elements, located on the Terminal Age Main Sequence. Probably due to this unfavourable evolutionary status, no clear regular distribution is observed in the frequency set.

The predominant term f1=6.92d^-1^ has been identified as the fundamental radial mode combining ground-based photometric and spectroscopic data. The CoRoT scientific programme contains other delta Sct stars, with different evolutionary statuses. The very rich and dense frequency spectrum discovered in the light curve of HD 50844 is the starting point for future investigations.