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Observations of the Triple Star ETA Virginis with a Long Baseline Optical Interferometer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2018

C.A. Hummel*
Affiliation:
US Naval Observatory, USA

Abstract

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We observed the hierarchical triple star Eta Virginis with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer and present the first images resolving all three components. The stars in the close pair have a separation between 4 and 9 milliarcseconds. The orbital motions of the stars were followed during the winter and spring of 2002. Preliminary, astrometrically determined orbits of the two components in the close pair by reference to the tertiary were derived, thus enabling the estimation of the mass ratio (1.27) of the components in the close pair. We also determined the relative orbital inclination to be 31 degrees. We describe the model-fitting process to interferometrie and spectroscopic data, and discuss some astrophysical component parameters.

Resumen

Resumen

Hemos observado la estrella triple jerárquica Eta Virginis con el interferómetro óptico prototipo de US Naval Observatory y presentamos las primeras imágenes con las tres componentes resueltas. Las estrellas del par cerrado tienen una separación entre 4 y 9 milisegundos de arco. Se observaron los movimientos orbitales de estas estrellas durante el invierno y la primavera del 2002. Se han obtenido órbitas astrométricas preliminares de las dos componentes del par cerrado con referencia a la terciaria, lo cual permite estimar el cociente de masas (1.27) del par cerrado. También obtuvimos que la inclinatión orbital relativa es de 31 grados. Describimos el proceso de ajuste del modelo a los datos interferométricos y espectroscópicos, y discutimos algunos parámetros astrofísicos de las componentes.

Type
Observational properties and Statistics of Binary Stars in the Field
Copyright
Copyright © Instituto de Astronomia – Mexico 2004

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