Double stars in the Tycho-2 Catalogue

Citation
Bd. Mason et al., Double stars in the Tycho-2 Catalogue, ASTRONOM J, 120(6), 2000, pp. 3244-3249
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
00046256 → ACNP
Volume
120
Issue
6
Year of publication
2000
Pages
3244 - 3249
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6256(200012)120:6<3244:DSITTC>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
The Tycho-2 Catalogue provides astrometric and photometric information for 2.5 million stars. Within the Tycho-2 Catalogue, while there is no separate listing of double-star parameters, there is a wealth of double-star data. For all measured double-star systems, each component has its own entry in T ycho-2 (this corresponds to the Hipparcos "double-entry systems"), and the classical double-star parameters of separation, position angle, and magnitu de difference can be calculated for these systems. Most double stars in the Tycho-2 Catalogue are identified by a code indicating a double, failed dou ble, or photocentric solution. Stars flagged in this manner include 6251 kn own double stars and 1234 new double-star systems (designated in the Washin gton Double Star Catalog [WDS] with a "TDS" discovery code). Also, 4726 sys tems solved via Tycho-2 "single-star treatment" not only matched one compon ent of a WDS pair but also had a nearby star that closely approximated the position and magnitude of the other WDS component. Finally, 1133 WDS system s were seen as single in Tycho-2 whose historical double-star parameters wo uld indicate that Tycho-2 should have measured them. The observational stat istics of these various classes of objects are presented together with cata log statistics for those with single-star solutions. A quantitative assessm ent of Tycho-2 double-star measures is provided via a comparison of Tycho-2 O-C residuals to known orbits. Finally, a subset of systems measured by Ty cho-2 have been verified via speckle interferometry using the 82 inch (2 m) telescope of McDonald Observatory. These results are presented here.