Beta Crateris : another Sirius system in the solar neighborhood.
Abstract
The star Beta Crt (A2 IV; mv = 4.48) has been detected in the Rosat all-sky survey. The Rosat X-ray and EUV data in conjunction with already published optical data suggest that the source of the X-ray emission is not the A star Beta Crt A, but rather a hitherto unknown white dwarf companion Beta Crt B, just like the well-known case of Sirius A and B. However, unlike Sirius B, Beta Crt B is too close to its primary to be resolved and/or studied optically. The temperature and atmospheric composition of the white dwarf companion are estimated and the similarities between this system and Sirius is discussed.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- June 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991A&A...246L..47F
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Binary Stars;
- Companion Stars;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- Stellar Temperature;
- White Dwarf Stars;
- Rosat Mission;
- Sky Surveys (Astronomy);
- Solar Neighborhood;
- Ultraviolet Astronomy;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- Astrophysics