VLT FORS spectra of blue supergiants in the Local Group galaxy NGC 6822

Half hour exposures using the ESO VLT/FORS1 combination at Paranal in Chile have allowed us to obtain spectra for three B supergiants in the dwarf irr egular galaxy NGC 6822. The spectra have been analysed using non-LTE techni ques and temperatures, gravities, helium content and abundances have been o btained. Overall the metallicity of NGC 6822 is found to lie between that o f the LMC and of the SMC, in agreement with previous observations of H II r egions and in contrast to the earlier findings of Massey et al. (1995). The analysis of H-alpha yields estimates of the mass-loss rates and wind momen ta. These results demonstrate that significantly longer exposures with the same instruments will allow us to perform quantitative spectroscopy of blue supergiants in galaxies far beyond the Local Group.