Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Astrometric search for unseen stellar and sub-stellar companions to nearby stars and the possibility of their detection

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Unseen companions to nearby stars are found astrometrically through perturbations in the proper motion from photographs taken with long-focus telescopes. The number of known unseen astrometric companions to nearby stars with photocentric orbits has grown by thirty percent in the last few years. Individual cases are discussed and optimum epochs given for resolution of the components. Orbital analysis of the photocentric positions on the photographic plates provides all information for accurate mass determination of the components except for Δm and angular separation, ϱ, of the two components which must come from another technique. There are potentially thirty low luminosity stars including some likely sub-stellar objects whose masses could be instantly found with the observations of these additional two parameters.

A list of the stars known within five parsecs as of 1978 July is given and the status of unseen companions to these stars is discussed on the basis of long interval astrometric coverage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abt, H. and Levy, G.: 1976, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 30, 273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwood, B. and Curott, D. R.: 1975, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 7, 337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann, P. J. and Hershey, J. L.: 1975, Astron. J. 80, 836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baize, P.: 1977, Compt. Rend. du Colloque Astronomique Européen: O Telescópìo Refractor é a Astronometria ao Servico das Estrelas Duplas. L'Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino; Pino Torinese, p. 101.

  • Behall, A. L. and Harrington, R. S.: 1976, Publ Astron. Soc. Pacific 88, 204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessel, F. W.: 1845, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. VI, 136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieger, G. S.: 1964, Astron. J. 69, 812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blazit, A., Bonneau, D., Koechlin, L., and Labeyrie, A.: 1977, Astrophys. J. Letters 214, L79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breakiron, L. A. and Gatewood, G.: 1974, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 86, 448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catchpole, R. M., Pagel, B. E. J., and Powell, A. L. T.: 1967, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 136, 403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christaldi, S. and Rodonò, M.: 1976, Astron. Astrophys. 48, 165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christy, J. W.: 1978, Astron. J., in press.

  • Deutsch, A. N. and Orlova, O. N.: 1977, Soviet Astron. 21, 182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggen, O. J.: 1956, Astron. J. 61, 416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn, H. and Alden, H. L.: 1960, Astron. J. 65, 148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feibelman, W. A.: 1976, Astrophys. J. 209, 497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feierman, B. H.: 1971, Astron. J. 76, 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franz, O.: 1958, Astron. J. 63, 329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franz, O.: 1976, Trans IAU XVIB, Com. 26, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasteyer, C.: 1954, Astron. J. 59, 243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasteyer, C.: 1966, Astron. J. 71, 1017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatewood, G.: 1973, Astron. J. 78, 777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatewood, G.: 1974, Astron. J. 79, 52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatewood, G.: 1975, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 7, 475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatewood, G.: 1976, Icarus 27, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gliese, W.: 1969, Veröff. Astron., Rechen-Instituts Heidelberg, No. 22.

  • Harrington, R. S.: 1971, Astron. J. 76, 930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, R. S.: 1975, Astron. J. 80, 1081.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, R. S.: 1977, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 89, 214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, R. S. and Behall, A. L.: 1973, Astron. J. 78, 1096.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, R. S., Dahn, C. C., and Guetter, H. H.: 1974, Astrophys. J. 194, L87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1960, Veröff München 5, No. 10.

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1966, Veröff München 7, No. 6.

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1972, Astron. J. 77, 160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1973, Astron. J. 78, 780.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1974, Astron. J. 79, 819.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heintz, W. D.: 1975, IAU Inf. Circl. Visual Double Stars, No. 64.

  • Heintze, J. R. W.: 1968, Bull. Astron. Inst. Netherlands 20, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1973a, Astron. J. 78, 426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1973b, Astron. J. 78, 935.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1975a, in C. de Jager and H. Nieuwenhuÿzen (eds.), Image Processing Techniques in Astronomy, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, p. 211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1975b, Astron. J. 80, 662.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1977, Astron. J. 82, 179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, J. L.: 1978, Astron. J. 83, 197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertzsprung, E.: 1920, Publ. Astrophys. Obs. Potsdam 24, #75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamper, K.: 1971, Astron. J. 77, 85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kron, G.: 1950, Sky Telesc. 9, 161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labeyrie, A. and Bonneau, D.: 1973, IAU Double Star Circular, No. 61.

  • Liebert, J.: 1976, Publ. Astron.Sco.Pacific 88, 232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1951, Astron. J. 55, 236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1953, Astron. J. 58, 135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1955, Astron. J. 60, 379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1957, Astron. J. 62, 55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1960, Astron. J. 65, 445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1971, Publ. Leander McCormick Obs. XVI, 59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1972, Astron. J. 77, 165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1973a, Astron. J. 78, 303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1973b, Astron. J. 78, 426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1974, Astron. J. 79, 974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1975, Astron. J. 80, 831.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1977a, Compt. Rend. du Colloque Astronomique Européen: O Telescópio Refractor é a Astronometria ao Servico das Estrelas Duplas. L'Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino; Pino Torinese, p. 131.

  • Lippincott, S. L.: 1977b, Astron. J. 82, 925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Borgman, E.: 1978, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 90, 226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Hershey, J. L.: 1972, Astron. J. 77, 679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Lanning, J. J.: 1976, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 8, 360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Wagman, N. E.: 1966, Astron. J. 71, 122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Worth, M. D.: 1976, Astron. J. 81, 548.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Worth, M. D.: 1978, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 90, 330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott, S. L. and Wyckoff, S.: 1964, Astron. J. 69, 471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luyten, W. J.: 1967, in M. Hack (ed.), Modern Astrophysics, Paris Gautier-Villars, 149.

  • Martin, G. E. and Ianna, P. A.: 1975, Astron. J. 80, 821.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAlister, H. A.: 1977, Astrophys. J. 215, 159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osvalds, V.: 1958, Astron. J. 63, 222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Probst, R. G.: 1977, Astron. J. 82, 656.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakos, K. D.: 1974, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 86, 1007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuyl, D.: 1936, Astron. J. 45, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spite, M.: 1967, Ann. Astrophys. 30, 211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strand, K. Aa.: 1977, Astron. J. 82, 745.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1959, Astron. J. 64, 236.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1967, Principles of Astronomy, Freeman Co. San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1971, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 9, 103.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1972, Astron. J. 77, 762.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1973, Astron. J. 78, 1099.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1974, Astron. J. 79, 491.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1975, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 13, 295.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1977a, Astron. J. 82, 750.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1977b, Vistas Astron. 20, 501.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P.: 1978, Astron. J. 83, 975.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P., Gökkaya, N. G., and Heintz, W. D.: 1968, Astron. J. 73, 361.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P. and Lippincott, S. L.: 1949, Astron. J. 55, 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Kamp, P. and Worth, M. D.: 1972, Astron. J. 77, 762.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volet, Ch.: 1932, Bull. Astron. 8, 51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, O. C.: 1967, Astron. J. 72, 905.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worek, T. F. and Beardsley, W. R.: 1975, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 7, 543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worley, C. E. and Behall, A. L.: 1973, Astron. J. 78, 650.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worth, M. D. and Heintz, W. D.: 1974, Astrophys. J. 193, 647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zagar, F.: 1932, Publ. Roy. Oss. Astron. Padova, No. 23.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sproul Observatory, Swarthmore College, 19081, Swarthmore, Penn., USA

    Sarah Lee Lippincott

Authors
  1. Sarah Lee Lippincott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lippincott, S.L. Astrometric search for unseen stellar and sub-stellar companions to nearby stars and the possibility of their detection. Space Sci Rev 22, 153–189 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212072

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212072

Keywords

Search

Navigation