The occultation of beta Scorpii by Jupiter. VII. The angular diameter of beta Scorpii A1 and A2.
Abstract
A new technique for measuring angular diameters of stars, which makes use of stellar images formed by planetary atmospheres during occultations, is described. This method has been applied to light curves of the 1971 May 13 occultation of beta Sco by Jupiter, yielding the angular diameters of the two early B stars comprising the spectroscopic binary beta Sco A. An angular diameter of about .000422 arcsec for beta Sco A1 and about .000264 arcsec is found for beta Sco A2. These angular diameters are in good agreement with that obtained with the intensity interferometer for beta Sco, a star of nearly the same magnitude and spectral type as beta Sco A1. If the distance to beta Sco A were precisely known, beta Sco A1 and A2 would become fundamental standards of mass, luminosity, and radius for early B stars. Present constraints on the distance and methods by which it could be accurately determined are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1086/154569
- Bibcode:
- 1976ApJ...207..994E
- Keywords:
-
- B Stars;
- Diameters;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Stellar Occultation;
- Atmospheric Refraction;
- Binary Stars;
- Early Stars;
- Light Curve;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration