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Designation of Multiple-star Components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2016

Andrei Tokovinin*
Affiliation:
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory

Abstract

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Hierarchical multiple stars need designations for individual components, for super-components (several bodies that act as single dynamical center and are often measured jointly) and sub-systems. Hierarchical designations like those proposed for WMC can satisfy all needs, but designations will have to be frozen and will not reflect true hierarchy in the future as new components are discovered. Hence, a clearing house (WMC on the web?) is needed to maintain unique and consistent designations. The hierarchy can be coded separately and flexibly by reference to parent super-components. As an example, these ideas are applied to a real quintuple star HR 1706.

Type
II. Special Scientific Sessions
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Pacific 2005

References

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