Massive Binaries: Speckle Interferometry of O, B, and WR Stars
Abstract
Due to the typically large distances and low space densities of massive stars, combined (astrometric and spectroscopic) studies of hot stars are lacking. This is unfortunate, since combining orbital solutions from these techniques provides an important means of measuring mass and distance. However, in the last decade the situation has improved considerably as significant efforts led to the systematic investigation of the brightest (and closest) O stars. While the period overlap between binaries detected by these techniques is not likely to the fully explored until optical interferometry has matured, the results obtained thus far have been quite tantalizing. We also made speckle interferometric surveys of the Wolf-Rayet stars and luminous B giants and supergiants at the time of the O star survey, and we summarize here our results on the incidence of astrometric binaries among these related groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA576250
Entities
People
- Brian D. Mason
- Douglas R. Gies
- William I. Hartkopf
Organizations
- United States Naval Observatory