Orbital motion in pre-main sequence binaries

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/147/6/157· OSTI ID:22340218

Schaefer, G. H. ^[1]; Prato, L. ^[2]; Simon, M. ^[3]

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1. The CHARA Array of Georgia State University, Mount Wilson Observatory, Mount Wilson, CA 91023 (United States)
2. Lowell Observatory, 1400 West Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (United States)
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 (United States)

We present results from our ongoing program to map the visual orbits of pre-main sequence (PMS) binaries in the Taurus star forming region using adaptive optics imaging at the Keck Observatory. We combine our results with measurements reported in the literature to analyze the orbital motion for each binary. We present preliminary orbits for DF Tau, T Tau S, ZZ Tau, and the Pleiades binary HBC 351. Seven additional binaries show curvature in their relative motion. Currently, we can place lower limits on the orbital periods for these systems; full solutions will be possible with more orbital coverage. Five other binaries show motion that is indistinguishable from linear motion. We suspect that these systems are bound and might show curvature with additional measurements in the future. The observations reported herein lay critical groundwork toward the goal of measuring precise masses for low-mass PMS stars.

• OSTI ID: 22340218
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online) Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 147; ISSN 1538-3881
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
BINARY STARS
MASS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
OPTICS
ORBITS
STARS