Open AccessInterferometry and spectroscopy of β Cen: a β Cephei star in a binary system *
Author(s) -
Robertson J. G.,
Bedding T. R.,
Aerts C.,
Waelkens C.,
Marson R. G.,
Barton J. R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02068.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , interferometry , binary star , binary number , astronomy , spectroscopy , radial velocity , telescope , spectral line , star (game theory) , stars , arithmetic , mathematics
β Cen is a bright β Cephei variable and has long been suspected to be a binary. Here we report interferometric observations with the 3.9‐m Anglo‐Australian Telescope at a single epoch which show the star to be a binary with components separated by 15 milliarcsec and having approximately equal luminosities at 486 nm. We also present high‐resolution spectra taken over five nights with the ESO CAT which show β Cen to be a double‐lined spectroscopic binary. We identify two pulsation frequencies in the primary. Further spectroscopic and interferometric studies of this double star should allow determination of its orbital parameters and component masses.