Abstract
EXAMINATION of the material in the Fifth Lick Catalogue of spectroscopic binaries, recently published by Moore and Neubauer1, reveals a definite relation between periods of revolution P and eccentricities of orbits e for binaries with short periods if their components belong to the main sequence of stars. The accompanying diagram includes systems with spectral type of main component B9 to A7, each system being shown as a point with co-ordinates (log P,e). In fig. 1 are plotted binaries with two visible spectra, the mass of secondary exceeding two-thirds of the mass of primary (dots). Some few eclipsing variables with equal components and photometrically measured eccentricities are added (triangles). fig. 2 and 3 contain systems of binaries with one visible spectrum, the average masses of the secondaries ranging from about one-half (fig. 2) to about one sun mass (fig. 3).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lick obs. Bull., 521 (1948).
Visrt. Astr. Ges., 74, 261 (1939); Z. Astrophys., 19, 157 (1940) and 23, 24 (1944).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WALTER, K. Periods and Eccentricities of Close Binary Stars. Nature 164, 1129–1130 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/1641129a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1641129a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.